A NEW chief executive has been appointed at a Worcestershire trust currently in special measures and facing ongoing financial problems.

Australian health expert Michelle McKay has been appointed chief executive at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Alexandra Hospital.

The current interim chief executive, Chris Tidman, will step down.

Mrs McKay is working her notice with her current employer and will be joining the trust in March 2017.

To manage the transition period and ensure a smooth handover director of financial improvement Rob Cooper will take over as acting chief executive/accountable officer with immediate effect and he will continue in post until her arrival.

Mrs McKay said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to this role and have already been encouraged by the enthusiasm and support of the people I have met.

"Worcestershire deserves great health services and I look forward to working with the staff and our stakeholders to drive forward an improvement programme to deliver the very best acute hospital care possible."

Chairman of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Caragh Merrick said: "Following the interview process to recruit a permanent chief executive, I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Michelle McKay to the position.

 "This is another important milestone in moving to a permanent leadership team and this appointment means that we will start to see the benefits of stability that patients, public, staff and our stakeholders have been calling for.

 "A stable, permanent leadership team is also an essential stepping stone in meeting our aspiration of being rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.

 "During the recruitment process I was determined to ensure that we attracted the very best candidates and we were able to shortlist an impressive field. However it is fair to say that some very experienced candidates were put off by our financial position and the fact that we are a trust in special measures.

"But we attracted some excellent national and international candidates and Michelle brings the experience, enthusiasm and determination that we need.

"When I was appointed as Chairman I said 'Worcestershire deserves the best' and this appointment meets that test."

She added: "I would like to thank Chris Tidman for his commitment, dedication and resilience over the last 20 months as interim chief executive and join our staff and stakeholders in wishing him well in his secondment to NHS Improvement."

Mrs McKay, who has a clinical background as an emergency nurse, has managed emergency departments, taught staff and is a published researcher in the field. 

Over the last 15 years, she has held a range of executive positions within the health system in Australia.

Michelle has committed her long term career future to Worcestershire and will be relocating with her husband and making Worcestershire their home.

Redditch MP Karen Lumley said she is "delighted" at the appointment.

Mrs Lumley said: "When I first met with new trust chair Carragh Merrick she promised to act decisively to appoint a permanent management team.

"This she has done and I very much look forward to meeting and working with Michelle McKay.

She also thanked Chris Tidman for his work over the last 20 months, wishing him well for the future.