YESTERDAY two prominent hospital leaders announced that they were stepping down.

Chairman Hazel Harding CBE and chief nurse and deputy CEO Lynn Wissett both cited ‘personal reasons’ as an explanation for leaving their posts.

A trained journalist, Mrs Harding was elected to Lancashire County Council and served as a Rossendale representative from 1985 to 2009. She become chair of education and cultural services in 1998.

From 2001 to 2008 Mrs Harding was the leader of Lancashire County Council and was awarded the CBE in 2006 for services to local government.

She was appointed in August 2009 and had previously served on the Burnley General Hospital NHS Trust.

Mrs Wissett took up her current post in 2006 and was appointed to the role of deputy chief executive in September 2008.

She is a registered nurse and midwife and has a degree and post graduate diploma in health service management.

The 52-year-old had been undertaking a course of study with the Institute of Directors.