ONE of the area's most important health bodies has appointed a new boss.

Edwin Doyle has been appointed interim chairman of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRT).

He replaces Sir David Varney, who left the trust in June after less than six months in the job.

A former civil engineer, Mr Doyle, who lives in Wanstead, has been chairman of NHS Redbridge since 2003 and was previously a non-executive director of Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford Primary Care Trust.

The trust's chief executive John Goulston said: “I am delighted that Edwin is joining us.

“We have worked alongside him for some time, and his detailed local knowledge of the NHS and the health economy will be extremely useful. I look forward to working with him.”

He will formally take up the post on August 21 on a nine-month contract, which comes with an annual salary of £34,152.

Mr Doyle will be replaced in his post at NHS Redbridge by the vice-chairwoman Diana Roxburgh.