A FORMER ward sister has been appointed new chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Marie Burnham, the current chief executive of the North Cumbria Acute NHS Trust, will take up the post on July 1.

She will replace Jo Cubbon, who left last week, at the helm of the trust which runs both Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital.

Miss Burnham, 43, has been employed by the NHS since leaving school and at 22 became one of the country's youngest-ever ward sisters.

She has been at the North Cumbria Trust for five years, taking it on when it had a zero-rating with the Department of Health, after damning reports from the Commission for Health Improvement.

But within two years, she had turned the Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital into two-star institutions. The maximum is three.

Miss Burnham said: "I am delighted to take on this challenging and exciting new role. The trust's staff have worked extremely hard over recent times providing high quality patient services at times of unprecedented demand whilst at the same time re-organising services in line with Meeting Patients' Needs.

"We do have important challenges ahead, particularly with regard to the financial position, but I am confident that, with the help of our staff, we will continue to provide high quality hospital services for the people of East Lancashire."

Her appointment was welcomed by Blackburn MP Jack Straw. He said: "She comes with a very good track record and I'm sure she will have the full support of everyone in East Lancashire.

"Jo Cubbon set very high standards against a turbulent background, which I am sure Miss Burnham will continue to reach."

Her appointment was welcomed by Burnley MP Kitty Ussher. She said: "I'm glad the trust has made an appointment and I look forward to working with Miss Burnham to ensure my constituents get the very best healthcare."

Burnley Council leader and critic of controversial changes at the hospitals, Gordon Birtwistle, said: "I am pleased they have got someone but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I will be talking to her as soon as possible about returning our services to Burnley."