The busiest hospital trust in Sussex has appointed a new boss.

Matthew Kershaw takes over as chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust this spring.

Mr Kershaw was called in as aspecial administrator to the debt-ridden South London Healthcare NHS Trust last year,

It  was on the brink of redundancy and had gone into administration.

Mr Kershaw recommended earlier this year that the London trust should be broken up, with other organisations taking over its services.

Brighton and Sussex has been trying to find a replacement for chief executive Duncan Selbie since he left in May.

One of Mr Kershaw's new jobs will be to oversee the trust’s ambitious £420 million project to redevelop the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighotn, which is still awaiting formal Treasury approval.

Brighton and Sussex chairman Julian Lee said: “Matthew’s track record demonstrates that he is an effective, visionary leader and undoubtedly the person to direct the next chapter in the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals story.”

Mr Kershaw said: “This is a crucial time for the trust and I look forward to working with patients, staff, the board and our key partners in the medical school and across Brighton, East and West Sussex in leading the trust to its next stage of development.”

Chris Adcock will continue as acting chief executive until Mr Kershaw arrives.

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