A NEW chief executive, who has pioneered controversial merger proposals in Essex, has been appointed to lead both Watford and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.

Mr Stephen Eames, who is the chief executive of Havering Hospitals NHS Trust in Essex, will take over from Mr Stephen Ramsden in March.

His appointment will not only shave about £62,000 from the health services budget but it increasingly points towards a merger between the Watford and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.

Mr Eames is currently responsible for two hospitals making up the Havering NHS Trust in Essex.

Described by his future employers as a "heavy hitter in the NHS" Mr Eames has been at the centre of radical proposals to shut two Essex hospitals and build a new hospital to serve the two areas.

It mirrors the most radical option under consideration by the West Hertfordshire Health Authority to build a new state-of-the-art hospital on a green field site.

A spokesman for Mount Vernon and Watford NHS Hospitals Trust said: "Mr Eames is a heavy hitter in the NHS and has pioneered plans to build a new hospital as part of the London Review of health services.

"He has been very innovative in times of great change and has supported plans for a new hospital."

Mr Eames will be on secondment for 12 months to lead a task force set up to encourage greater collaboration between the two hospitals.

Its aim is to study ways in which the two trusts can work together to provide better hospital services, using staff, resources and facilities as effectively as possible.

Mr Eames will be jointly employed by both trusts and his appointment will start on March 30.

The spokesman said his appointment does not necessarily mean a merger between the two hospitals.

He said: "Obviously the health authority is looking to work together more closely, but it is too early to say that a merger is going to take place."

Mr Ramsden, the current chief executive at Mount Vernon and Watford hospitals, is leaving to take over as chief executive of Luton and Dunstable Hospital in February.

Mr Tim Skelton, chief executive at Hemel Hempstead and St Albans hospitals, is looking for another post as a chief executive in the NHS.

Chairman of Mount Vernon and Watford NHS Trust David Swarbrick said: "I and my colleagues from both trusts would like to thank both our current chief executives.

"Their hard work and dedication to the NHS has done much to maintain and improve local health services.

"Stephen Eames is a highly experienced senior NHS manager and we look forward to his leadership in the task force."

Chairman of the St Albans and Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust Mrs Rosie Sanderson said: "We need to look very carefully at making sure that we are using our staff, resources and facilities in the best possible way.

"Closer collaboration between ourselves and Mount Vernon and Watford on particular services should mean that we need to spend less time and money on things like support services, freeing up funds for direct patient care."

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