GAZETTE & HERALD: GEOFF Scaife, who was killed in an horrific M4 smash last Tuesday, was the health chief responsible for cutting treatment waiting times across the region's hospitals.

Mr Scaife, 55, died when a car transporter crossed the central reservation of the motorway at Acton Turville, between Chippenham and Bath, and smashed into his Chrysler Voyager, which was travelling westbound.

Tributes have poured in for the married father-of-four, who had been chief executive of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority at Langley Park, Chippenham, since January 2003.

Authority chairman Anthea Millett, said he was an inspirational leader who had turned around the authority's performance, enabling people to be treated more quickly in hospitals, in accident and emergency units and in GP surgeries across the three counties.

Mr Scaife was also the driving force in securing £60 billion of Government money to help the West's debt-ridden healthcare trusts.

Mrs Millett said Mr Scaife's colleagues had been shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his death.

She said: "Geoff had been with our organisation for 15 months and in that short time he had achieved a great deal.

"He was intelligent, dedicated and a real ambassador for the National Health Service. He was also a great friend and colleague, warm, supportive and kind.

"He was passionate about making real change and had achieved so much in such a short space of time. The health service has lost a great champion."

Kevin Woods, director of health policy and strategy, spoke on behalf of the strategic health authority's executive team. He said: "Geoff's tragic death has caused great sorrow and grief amongst his many friends and colleagues.

"All of his colleagues extend their deepest sympathies to his wife, Janet, their children and family."

It is believed Mr Scaife was travelling back to his home in Worcester when he was killed.

He made the 90-mile journey from his home to Chippenham every day.

Mr Scaife started his career in the Department of Health and Social Security in 1968 and was seconded to work in the Prime Minister's Private Office from 1971-1974, before moving to the Department of Health in 1975.

Before taking up his post in Chippenham, he served as chief executive of the Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority, and was chief executive of the National Health Service in Scotland.

Mike Marchment, chief executive of West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority said: "I am so shocked by this tragic news. Geoff was a great man, with great intellect and passion.

"He offered me much support as a friend and mentor. He was so committed to his family, and I offer them my deepest sympathies."

Sir Nigel Crisp, chief executive of the NHS, called Mr Scaife a great man and a great leader.

He said: "His personal qualities, his depth of experience and his wisdom meant that he made an enormous contribution to the whole of the NHS. We will miss him."

Sir Ian Carruthers, chief executive of Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority said Mr Scaife was a remarkable man, an outstanding professional and among the best of his generation.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the motorway accident which closed the M4 between junctions 17 and 18 until 2.30am last Wednesday.

They believe the unladen car transporter, which had been travelling eastbound, collided with a white Citroen despatch vehicle at around 7pm.

It went out of control, crossing over the central reservation and colliding with Mr Scaife's car.

Fire, police and ambulance teams from Chippenham, Swindon and Bristol were scrambled to the incident, along with the police helicopter. But Mr Scaife, who had to be cut out of the car by fire crews, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The drivers of the van and the transporter, who were from Staffordshire and Sussex, were able to release themselves from their vehicles and were taken by ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where they were treated for minor injuries and later released.

Witnesses should contact Swindon Traffic Police on (01793) 528111.

Mr Scaife's funeral will be held tomorrow at 12.30pm at St Andrew's Church, Ombersley, Worcestershire and will be followed by a private cremation.

Mrs Scaife has requested no flowers, but donations can be made to Cancer Research UK, PO Box 123, London, WC2A 3PX with a note to say in memory of Geoff Scaife.

A memorial service will be held on June 25 at 3.30pm at Worcester Cathedral.