AN acting chief executive has been appointed to run West Suffolk Hospital when the current post-holder departs.

Laurence Cawley

AN acting chief executive has been appointed to run West Suffolk Hospital when the current post-holder departs.

Gwen Nuttall will take over from outgoing chief executive of Bury St Edmunds hospital Chris Bown in January.

She joined the hospital at chief operating officer in 2004.

The appointment comes as the hospital looks to complete its application for Foundation Trust (FT)status.

Discussions with independent regulator Monitor have now restarted following a successful bid for additional preparation time for the bid.

During the coming months, Ms Nuttall will work closely with outgoing chief executive Chris Bown to fine-tune details of the application and steer the hospital through the final stages of the bid and the crucial board-to-board meeting.

Roger Quince, trust chairman, said: “We are reaching an absolutely vital stage of our journey towards becoming a Foundation Trust. As such, we feel it is essential we have continuity of leadership in place - and are delighted that Gwen has accepted our board's approach to act as chief executive.

“Gwen has the full and unanimous support of both her fellow executives and our non-executive directors, all of whom feel her extensive knowledge and experience will prove invaluable as our application reaches its conclusion.

”We have every confidence that Gwen will successfully lead us to FT status which, in turn, will bring huge benefits for the patients we serve.”

Mr Bown will leave West Suffolk Hospital at the end of March. Ms Nuttall will act as chief executive until work to appoint a permanent replacement is complete.