COLCHESTER hospital has appointed a former NHS accountant and experienced manager as its new chief executive.

Frank Sims, who has been running community healthcare in West London for 18 months, will take over from Dr Lucy Moore in December.

He will be Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust’s fourth chief executive in two years and its first permanent post-holder since it was placed in special measures in December 2013.

It could still be in special measures when Mr Sims takes over. The Care Quality Commission is due to inspect the hospital in two weeks and will make an announcement up to three months later.

Mr Sims said: “I want to emphasise my commitment to the long-term success of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

“I have successfully managed similar issues to those at the trust and this is part of the attraction of this job.

“I am pulled by the opportunity and the sense of determination to deliver positive changes, which I have no doubt the trust will be able to achieve.”

It will be Mr Sims’ first appointment as a hospital chief executive. He was appointed chief executive of Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust in April last year. Before to that he was chief officer at High Weald Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group for two years, and a director at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust from 2004 to 2009.

He started in the NHS as a management accountant in 1989, before moving into managerial posts at NHS trusts.

Alan Rose, chairman of Colchester’s hospital trust, said: “Frank’s background means he brings a strong reputation for staff engagement and collaboration with other organisations.

“He is extremely patientfocused and will build on the strong foundations Dr Moore has put in place over the last 15 months.”

Stephen Swords, chairman of Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Under his leadership, the trust has progressed to a strong position, in terms of delivering the highest quality services to patients and developing the staff engagement we now have.”

The revolving door of chief executives at Colchester hospital began with Dr Gordon Coutts from September 2010 to December 2013. Then came interim chief executives Kim Hodgson from January 2014 to May 2014 and Dr Lucy Moore from May 2014 until this year.