Wade will take up the role at Medway alongside his current role as chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

He replaces Jayne Black, who leaves Medway NHS Foundation Trust in early April to take up an appointment as chief executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Wade said: ‘This is a real opportunity for both organisations to learn from each other and make the best use of our collective expertise. By working together more effectively, we can improve resilience, drive innovation and deliver even better care for our communities. While both trusts will remain independent, this is a chance to build on what we do well and strengthen services for the future.'

The trusts say the joint chief executive appointment represents a significant step towards closer collaboration and recognises the pathways followed by patients from across north Kent.

Medway already shares a chair with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, while Dartford and Gravesham shares a chair, Dr Jackie Craissati, with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

John Goulston, chair of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Jonathan is an experienced chief executive and understands the challenges that the NHS in Medway and Kent experiences. At Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust he has overseen a number of improvements, and has played a key role in developing partnership working.

‘We look forward to welcoming him to Medway where I know his skills and experience will be a great fit as we continue to make improvements through our Patient First approach.'

Jackie Craissati, chair of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, added: ‘I am excited by the opportunity for greater collaboration with Medway NHS Foundation Trust. I am confident our two boards will work well together, and this interim arrangement will allow us to explore how we might achieve more sustainable pathways of care for the people of North Kent.'

NHS Kent and Medway chief executive Paul Bentley said: ‘It is a challenging time to be a chief executive in the National Health Service as we bring down patient waiting times, as well as improve quality within the financial envelope allocated and Jon is well equipped to address the challenges we face. The support of teams will be central to the delivery of high-quality healthcare in the trust and I am sure this will be forthcoming.'