Christine Allen has been appointed chief executive of the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She will replace interim chief executive David Hill who took the reigns at James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston in April last year following the publication of a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.

Ms Allen is due to start in the early summer.

She is currently the deputy chief executive and chief operating officer at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

Announcing the appointment, the trust said Ms Allen had been 'instrumental in leading significant transformational change and service redesign' in elderly care, urgent care and stroke services at Northampton General.

Chairman of the trust David Wright said: 'Under the leadership of Christine Allen we can go from strength to strength and continue to build on the strong position in which we find ourselves.

'I am sure she will be an excellent successor to David Hill, to whom we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for all has done since returning here in April last year.'

Ms Allen said: 'I am delighted to be appointed as chief executive of the James Paget Hospital.

'I have visited the hospital on several occasions now and am really impressed with what I've seen and the people I've met.'

It marks a fresh start for the James Paget following a turbulent time.

The CQC issued three warnings to the trust after it failed to meet standards in dignity and nutrition, service provision and patient care and welfare.

But after a number of changes and the return of Mr Hill, the final warning was removed last June when the health watchdog ruled that the hospital had made a remarkable recovery.