Troubled health trust's new chief

Overnight A&E services have reopened in Pontefract

A cash-strapped hospital trust in West Yorkshire has announced it has appointed a new chairman.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed experienced administrator Jules Preston to start in October.

David Stone, appointed in an interim capacity in March, will leave at the end of the month, said the trust.

This year the trust was criticised for closing overnight A&E services in Pontefract and both the chairman and chief executive left.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has to save £24m by April 2013 and in April revealed it was losing £100,000 a day.

The trust has since reopened Pontefract Hospital overnight A&E services and also runs hospitals in Wakefield and Dewsbury. It employs more than 8,500 staff.

Mr Preston served as chairman of the Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust and was formerly a non-executive director of the area's strategic health authority.

He also held senior positions with the Manpower Services Commission.

Stephen Eames, interim chief executive said the trust faced "some considerable challenges" over the next few months.