The chief operating officer of the Whittington Hospital has resigned from her role.

Maria da Silva announced yesterday she is stepping down from her position with Whittington Health, the body that runs the hospital in Magdala Avenue, Highgate, for personal and family reasons.

The announcement came on the same day that board members walked out of a monthly meeting when they came face-to-face with protestors wearing cat masks and chanting through megaphones.

A statement from the hospital said: “As with all organisations, Whittington Health has a regular turnover of staff.

“Recently, our chief operating officer, Maria da Silva, announced that she will be leaving in mid July due to personal and family reasons.”

Ms da Silva joined Whittington Health in April 2011.

Originally from Portugal, she has a clinical background in occupational therapy and she was previously director of community services across health and social care in Islington.

Earlier this month Margaret Boltwood, the former Director of People at the Whittington, decided to take voluntary redundancy.

Ms da Silva’s resignation comes as the community fights to save the Whittington Hospital - which is at risk of having one third of its site sold off in order to save money and become a foundation trust.

The application for the hospital receiving foundation trust status has already been delayed and it will be considered again towards the end of the year.

At yesterday’s monthly board meeting, held in a restaurant at the hospital, campaigners chanted “resign, resign” at board members as they disappeared to a private room.

The campaigners then took out chairs and held their own board meeting, after being warned by security guards that they could not sit at the head table, originally set up for the members of the board.

Shirley Franklin of Defend the Whittington Hospital Coalition, which organised yesterday’s protest, said of the board walk-out: “I think it’s pathetic and disgusting because the board should be listening to the community.

“They seem to be against us and they have never, ever shown that they have taken anything we have said on board.”