LEIGHTON Hospital in Crewe is looking for a new chief executive with a salary of between £100,000 and £200,000 on offer.

The top role with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHNFT) is available after current chief executive James Sumner's appointment at a Merseyside-based hospital trust.

Mr Sumner has been in his current post for almost three years and is set to become the chief executive of the large Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs four hospitals - Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

In comparison, Mid Cheshire Hospitals is responsible for Leighton and the smaller medical facilities, Victoria Infirmary at Northwich and the Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.

The trust has hired a specialist executive recruitment firm, Odges Berndtson, to find Mr Sumner's successor with a closing date set for April 22.

The role has also been posted on job sites where it is described as a "fantastic leadership opportunity to join the board of a high-performing and ambitious healthcare provider", delivering a range of health services across three main sites as well as being a key partner in community services across south and mid Cheshire.

The Trust board says its ideal hire would be an "exceptional individual" who can steer the delivery of a new five-year strategy focused on innovation and transformation.

Part of that could see the new chief executive overseeing a major rebuild at Leighton. The trust has made a bid to be included in a £3.7 billion government hospital building programme.

Most of Leighton could be replaced by a state-of-the-art, carbon-neutral medical complex at a cost of £663 million if the bid is successful with a decision due to be made later this year.

MCHNFT says its chief executive salary is negotiable, while a job site posting has placed the salary package on offer between £100,000 and £200,000.

According to the trust's annual report for 2020/21 Mr Sumner received a remuneration and benefits package of between £175,000 and £180,000 in the last financial year.

Of Mr Sumner's appointment on Merseyside, Sue Musson, Chair of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "James is an outstanding and exceptional appointment for our trust.

"He brings to the role a deep understanding of our focus and priorities on improvement, culture and working with partners to shape the future of healthcare for patients and the communities we serve."