New chairman for stricken NHS trust

Jules Preston is taking the £39,400-a-year role at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust which runs services in Wakefield, Pontefract and Dewsbury.

The trust is facing a major shake-up to stem losses of £100,000 a day and has seen almost all its board resign or move to new posts since its latest financial crisis emerged last year.

Mr Preston has held board positions in the public, private and voluntary sectors in the North East and is current chairman of the Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: “With the support of all of those in the trust and with the goodwill of partners, together we can develop sustainable health services of which we will all be proud.”

Chief executive Stephen Eames said he brought a “wealth of experience”. “We face some considerable challenges over the next few months as we work to reconfigure services and determine the future direction of the organisation,” he added.