WORKFORCE: West Middlesex University Hospital Trust has appointed a new interim chief executive.

Jacqueline Totterdell will take on the role from 1 April.

Ms Totterdell was previously chief executive at Southend University Hospital Foundation Trust for four years before moving to Sherwood Forest Hospitals Foundation Trust to help turn around Newark Hospital.

West Middlesex is due to merge with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Foundation Trust in July.

Chelsea and Westminster was criticised by the Care Quality Commission in October last year for its struggling accident and emergency department and the long waits patients experienced for some operations.

The trust was given a rating of ‘requires improvement’.