THE UNDER-fire Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust has appointed a new chief executive.

David Cain takes over the top job from John Sargent, who has taken up a two year secondment at the North West Regional Office.

The cash-strapped trust has recently come under fierce criticism from unions, the CHC and MP Graham Brady, after it originally decided to close two wards at Altrincham General Hospital without any consultation.

But last month the trust announced it would not take a decision on the future of the two under-threat wards until at least next spring.

Mr Cain, currently deputy chief executive at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, will take up his new post on August 31.

Mr Cain's health service career has spanned more than 20 years, and he has recently completed a secondment as chief executive of Greater Manchester Ambulance Service.

Before his appointment at Liverpool and Broadgreen, he was the director of primary care for the North West Regional Health Authority, and was previously the chief executive of the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust.

Mr Cain says of his appointment: "It is a great pleasure to be offered the post. I look forward to helping the board steer and develop services for patients in Trafford."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.