The beleaguered east Kent hospitals trust has a new boss – but she will only be in the role until early next year.

Health bosses were forced to look for a new chief executive after Matthew Kershaw switched to a post with The King’s Fund health charity in London last month.

But they have now appointed Susan Acott as interim chief executive until late March, who has previously held senior positions in Manchester and London.

Spokesman Steve James said: “Susan will act as interim Chief Executive until March 31, during which time the trust will conduct a robust recruitment and selection process for the permanent role.”

The troubled trust, which looks after hospitals in Canterbury, Thanet, Ashford, Dover and Folkestone, was partially lifted out of special measures earlier this year.

Ms Acott, who is currently chief executive at the Dartford and Gravesham NHS trust, will start her new role on Monday.

She will return to her current post at the end of her secondment in east Kent.

Gerard Sammon, Dartford and Gravesham’s director of strategy and planning, will become the interim chief executive at Dartford.