GORLESTON’S James Paget Hospital has appointed a new chief executive.

Christine Allen has been chosen to lead the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will take up her post later in the year.

She has worked for the NHS for more than 25 years and is currently the deputy chief executive and chief operating officer at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

While at Northampton, she has been instrumental in leading significant transformational change and service redesign in elderly care, urgent care and stroke services.

She has also had the opportunity to undertake the Institute of Healthcare Improvement patient safety training in Boston USA and helped shape the trusts quality and safety programme.

The appointment has been approved by the hospital’s Governors Council.

Chairman David Wright said: “Under the leadership of Christine Allen we can go from strength to strength and continue to build on the strong position in which we find ourselves. I am sure she will be an excellent successor to David Hill, to whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for all has done since returning here in April last year.”

Christine said: “I am delighted to be appointed as chief executive of the James Paget Hospital, I have visited the hospital on several occasions now and am really impressed with what I’ve seen and the people I’ve met.”

It is anticipated that Christine will join the Trust in early summer. During this interim period David Hill will continue as chief executive to ensure a smooth transition.