An interim chairman has been appointed to a local health trust while they look for a permanent one.

Julian Lee has joined NHS Surrey while the Appointments Commission, which makes appointments to the boards of Primary Care Trusts on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health, searches for a new chairman.

Mr Lee comes from his current role as chairman of Brighton and Sussex Hospitals Trust and was previously chairman of NHS Brighton and Hove. Mr Lee will return to his role as chairman of Brighton and Sussex Trust on the conclusion of his interim role at NHS Surrey.

The chartered accountant and was a partner in an international accounting firm before moving into industry where he was chief executive or executive chairman of various listed and privately held UK and US companies over the last 20 years.