Ms Slemeck has a new job in Sussex

THE chief executive of the Royal Free Hospital will stand down from her post later this summer.

Kate Slemeck, who has headed up the Hampstead hospital since 2018, will leave for University Hospitals Sussex at the end of July.

She joined the trust from the Whittington Hospital as director of operations in 2011 and later became its first female chief executive.

In the past year she has led the hospital through the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw parts of the hospital converted into intensive care units (ICUs) to deal with the surge in patient numbers and the decision to temporarily move the children’s accident and emergency services to the Whittington.

The hospital’s chief people officer David Grantham is also leaving and joining the same trust on the south coast.

John Connolly will be interim chief executive until a replacement is hired.