Troubled health trust appoints new boss, but she won’t be staying long

The beleaguered East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has a new boss – but she will only be in the role until early next year.

Health bosses were forced to look for a new chief executive after Matthew Kershaw switched to a post with The King’s Fund health charity in London last month.

But they have now appointed Susan Acott, who has previously held senior positions in Manchester and London, as interim chief executive until late March.

Spokesman Steve James said: “Susan will act as interim chief executive until March 31, during which time the trust will conduct a robust recruitment and selection process for the permanent role.”

The troubled trust, which looks after Kent and Canterbury and Ashford’s William Harvey, was partially lifted out of special measures earlier this year, but has been forced to draft in extra emergency doctors as its waiting times remain among the worst in the country.

Ms Acott, who is currently chief executive at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust, will start her new role on Monday.

She will return to her current post at the end of her secondment in east Kent.

Gerard Sammon, Dartford and Gravesham’s director of strategy and planning, will become the interim chief executive at Dartford.

Interim chief executive Susan Acott and former chief Matthew Kershaw