AN interim chief executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Watford General and parts of Mount Vernon, has been appointed to temporarily take over from former chief executive Stephen Eames who is leaving.

Ms Val Harrison, who is currently director of performance and development at Eastern Regional Office, has been appointed interim chief executive and will join the trust in October.

Val joined the NHS in 1979 and has since worked in a variety of roles including chief executive of South Bedfordshire NHS Trust and director of planning and information at Islington Health Authority.