THE chief executive of a troubled hospital trust will stand down from his post at Christmas.

Matthew Kershaw, chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH), will join East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust in the new year.

He has been at the trust for three years during which time he has presided over a series of cuts.

Union leaders described his departure as "brilliant news" last night and urged the trust to look more long term for their next appointment.

The Argus understands that Mr Kershaw lives with his young family in Kent, just minutes from his new trust. This was said to be a key factor in his decision.

He said yesterday in a statement that he was looking forward to a new challenge but said he had mixed emotions about leaving.

He said: “The past three years have been both the most challenging and the most rewarding of my career and in that relatively short time we have achieved such a great deal. After more than a decade in the planning we achieved the relocation of neurosurgery from Hurstwood Park to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

"Last month we secured formal approval for the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital. I am also very proud of our Values and Behaviours programme which is the biggest investment in staff engagement and cultural change that the trust has ever made."

He added that he was was disappointed to leaving the trust, which runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, at a time when "we are on the brink of emerging into a period of recovery and stability".

However, Gary Palmer, GMB representative for the trust, said members would be wishing him good riddance.

He said: "His record is one of cuts and he has done very little for this trust. I just feel sorry for his next trust, we are just passing the problem on.

"We understand there are pressures and cuts handed down from the government but it is a case of how you manage those cuts and how you consult with staff and the public."

He also questioned Mr Kershaw's timing with the trust entering its busiest time of the year.

The trust's deputy chief executive Amanda Fadero will act as interim chief executive while the board search for a successor.

The Argus approached Mr Kershaw for interview but at the time of going to press he had not responded.