A NEW chief executive has been appointed from this autumn to lead the financial turnaround needed at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, which is now more than £11.4 million in the red.

The planned merger of RSCH with Ashford and St Peter hospitals was ‘paused’ earlier this year to allow “immediate financial difficulties” to be resolved and official regulator NHS Improvement is currently investigating why the NHS foundation trust’s finances has deteriorated so swiftly.

The trust has had an interim chief executive since October last year, and NHS Improvement identified hiring a new permanent chief executive as a key priority.

Paula Head, who joins the team this autumn, has board experience in both the acute trust and community setting.

In her most recent role as chief executive at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, she transformed the way community and acute providers work together and also also saw the Trust through its successful application to achieve Foundation Trust status.

As Frimley Park Hospital’s director of transformation, she delivered strategic organisational change, including key efficiencies and service improvements.

RSCH chairman John Denning said: “Paula boasts a great strategic awareness and shrewd understanding of the complex challenges facing the NHS both in the short and longer terms.

“Her combination of skills and experience will play a fundamental role in leading the Royal Surrey through its financial turnaround and adoption of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.”

Ms Head added: “I’m really excited to be joining the team at Royal Surrey.

“We have a lot do and I am looking forward to working with people from across the organisation to create an effective vision that will inspire excellence.

“I plan to join Royal Surrey in the autumn when we can build upon the good work that is already under way.”