The former head of Queen’s Hospital and King George Hospital celebrated her retirement on Friday.
Averil Dongworth was chief executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust for three years.
She said goodbye to colleagues and medical staff at a party at Queen’s Hospital, Romford.
Ms Dongworth said she was proud of the improvements made during her time there, which was the “most challenging” of her career.
She added: “I am proud that the trust has made great strides since the hospital-wide CQC investigation in 2011.
“I believe the trust is now in a much stronger position with a real opportunity to build for the future.”
She is looking forward to spending time with her family and friends and pursuing her own projects in health and conservation.
Interim chairman of BHRUT, Dr Maureen Dalziel, said: “We are extremely grateful for the dedicated leadership and for the huge contribution Averil has made to the trust.”
She was succeeded by Matthew Hopkins on Tuesday.
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