THE new chairman of East Lancashire’s troubled hospitals will be announced early in the New Year.

After interviews on December 13, the individual who will head up the trust, currently in special measures over criticisms of its management and performance, was chosen before Christmas.

Details of their contract are now being finalised, with an announcement from the NHS Trust Development Authority due in early January.

The news was welcomed by health campaigners and MPs who said they hoped for a top quality appointment to tackle the challenges facing the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust which runs the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals. And they called for a new chief executive to be named as soon as possible.

Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group said: “We need a top-quality chairman to tackle the task ahead. I hope we will soon have a new permanent chief executive as well.”

Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley MP, said: ”This is good news but we need a really effective new chairman. He faces a huge challenge. We need a new chief executive soon. We need high-quality people.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “The appointment of a new chairman is good news for the stability of the trust. The new chairman will face a huge task.”

Sir Bill Taylor, chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Healthwatch said: “I welcome the news. I hope it is someone with local connections and a creative approach to management.”

Since its foundation in 2003, the merged trust has had five chairmen and eight chief executives.

Hazel Harding resigned as chairman in July, days after the trust was placed in special measures following the Keogh report, and deputy Martin Hill took over as interim boss. Earlier this month Mark Brearley quit and was replaced temporarily by Jonathan Wood who became the ELHT’s fifth chief executive since 2008. He will remain as acting chief executive until further notice.

A spokesman for the NHS Trust Development Authority said: “We will be announcing the appointment of a new chairman in the new year.”