JOHN Saxby, chief executive of South Durham Health Care NHS Trust, has been appointed as acting chief executive of the new merged County Durham hospital trust.

Announcing the interim appointment to staff at the South Durham and North Durham trusts, the trust chairman designate, Angela Ballatti, said: "John has considerable experience in the role, having been chief executive for the last ten years."

The current North Durham trust chief executive, Steven Mason, will work alongside Mr Saxby to ensure the interim period goes as smoothly as possible, said Mrs Ballatti.

The chief executive post for the new County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was advertised nationally on September 19.

The closing date for applications is October 4. It is expected that interviews will be held in mid-October.

The new trust will run the University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Shotley Bridge Hospital and a number of smaller community hospitals throughout County Durham.