The chairman of Oxfordshire's acute hospital trust is retiring after helping the organisation become one of the largest in the country.

Peter Bagnall will officially leave the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals on Tuesday, October 31, after seven years in office.

Doctors, nurses and managers at the John Radcliffe, Churchill and Radcliffe Infirmary, and The Horton, Banbury, have paid tribute to his work. Nursing director Tricia Hart said Mr Bagnall had always shown concern for both patients and staff.

Mr Bagnall was a non-executive board member for Oxfordshire Health Authority before being appointed ORH chairman in November 1993.

His first major role was to head the merger between the Churchill and the JR and since then he has seen the Radcliffe Infirmary and The Horton join the growing trust.

Despite bed closures, nursing shortages and growing financial worries, Mr Bagnall said he felt privileged to work for the trust. He said: "The privilege of working with them is beyond measure."

Neil Ashley, chairman of Oxford-based construction company Amey, will succeed Mr Bagnall.