AN NHS trust placed into special measures following a damning report by inspectors has appointed a new chairman.

David Clayton-Smith has taken on the role at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust with immediate effect.

He replaces Sue Bernhauser, who has been acting chairwoman since the resignation of Stuart Welling last year.

Mr Welling and the trust’s former chief executive Darren Grayson both stepped down in 2015 following the publication of two highly critical reports from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which gave the trust an inadequate rating.

Inspectors had found a “worrying disconnect” between senior managers and frontline staff at the trust, which runs Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

They cited allegations of bullying and a leadership described as a “dictatorship”.

Concerns were also raised about the trust’s surgery and maternity and outpatients services.

Trust Development Authority director of development Anne Eden said: “David will need to focus on developing a long term plan for East Sussex Healthcare that sees them return to financial balance, continue the trust’s improvement work and consistently provide high quality services to patients across all services.”

Mr Clayton-Smith said: “Everything we do must be focused on the patient experience and the quality of their care and treatment.

“The people of East Sussex rightly expect us to be able to deliver services to the highest standard within the NHS.

“I very much look forward to meeting with our staff, local people and civic leaders over the coming months to help build a better future together.”

Mr Clayton-Smith is chairman of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network and was previously the chairman of NHS Surrey for three years from 2010.

He will be given an annual payment of £40,000.