A NEW chief executive for the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basildon, Southend and Chelmsford's hospitals, has been announced.

Matthew Hopkins is currently chief executive at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, and has also held the role at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. He will return to Essex later this year.

Trust chair Nigel Beverley said: "It was an extremely competitive recruitment process, and I am delighted that the Trust is attracting so much talent.

"Matthew is an experienced CEO who I know will use his significant knowledge and leadership skills to guide the organisation forward as we continue to improve the care we are providing to our population.

"I cannot thank Hannah Coffey enough for her outstanding leadership as our acting CEO – she will continue in the role until Matthew joins us later in the year.

"Hannah has spearheaded our improvement programme and been instrumental in bringing about real change for patients and staff including significant reductions in waiting times and the number of vacancies across the Trust.

"At the same time, she led the organisation through one of the most challenging winters the NHS has ever seen, and we are extremely grateful for her commitment, support and guidance."