Debt hospital gets new chief executive

Kim Hodgson will be Annette Sergeant's successor at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust from October 10.

She is currently deputy chief executive and director of operations at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust.

John Lewis, the Trust's chairman, said: "We are very pleased to appoint Kim Hodgson as our new Chief Executive.

"Her experience and leadership will play a vital role in developing the Trust in the years ahead."

Mrs Hodgson said: "I'm delighted to have been asked to lead the Trust and I look forward to meeting and working with staff at the Trust.

"I am very confident the Trust has the capability to rise to the challenges it faces.

"I want to set a clear strategic direction for the Trust and work with partners in local health and social care to develop services for local people."

Kim's career in the NHS started immediately after leaving school where she worked as a nurse for ten years, progressing to a senior sister position at, among other hospitals, Westminster and the Royal Free in London.

On entering senior management she continued to study and obtained a MSc in Management and a PhD in organisational development.

In 2004, she won the prestigious title of Manager of the Year at the National Health and Social Care Awards.

Prior to working at East Kent, Kim had worked at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, one of the largest hospitals in the country.