THE chief executive of the NHS trust that runs Okehampton Community Hospital is to step down from her post in April 2014.

Jac Kelly, chief executive of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust took up her role in 2006.

Roger French, chairman of the trust, said: 'She will be a hard act to follow. The financial and clinical challenge facing her on arrival at the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust was enormous. Her vision for securing local services for the populations of northern and eastern Devon ensures that she can claim a legacy of consistently delivering high quality, well performing and sustainable health services.

'She has returned the trust to financial balance whilst doubling the number of consultants and significantly increasing the number of frontline clinicians — nurses, therapists and care assistants.

'Jac leaves an NHS organisation that has a bright future and a strong track record in delivering excellent services for patients time and again. Whichever target you take, we meet the vast majority every month. This performance doesn't happen by accident — it is as a result of concerted effort and focus by all our NHS staff.'

Ms Kelly said: said: 'I feel extremely fortunate in having worked with so many dedicated and skilled staff, who are always willing to make that extra effort on behalf of patients and their families. Frontline or support, trainee or executive, the progress we have made in the past eight years is down to them.'

The trust is to start recruiting for a new chief executive immediately.