Hospital trust names new chairman

Nicholas Wells replaces George Jenkins as chairman of East Kent trust

A Kent NHS trust has appointed a new chairman to replace its former boss, who left to run hospitals at the centre of a clostridium difficile scandal.

Nicholas Wells, who was vice chairman of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, has been its acting chairman for a year.

He took over from George Jenkins, who was seconded to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust last October.

It followed a damning report into the deaths of 90 patients in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.

Mr Jenkins was appointed acting chairman of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trust after the previous chairman and chief executive resigned.

The Healthcare Commission's report, published on 11 October 2007, said a "litany" of errors in infection control had caused the "avoidable tragedy" of the 90 deaths.

East Kent hospitals trust said it was pleased to announced the four-year appointment of Mr Wells, on a salary of £23,020 per year.

The trust runs the William Harvey at Ashford, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Margate, the Kent and Canterbury, the Buckland at Dover and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone.