Fletcher joined East Kent Hospitals in April 2022 from the Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in London where she had been chief executive since 2013.

She said: ‘It has been a privilege to work in my local trust and with such dedicated staff across the organisation and within the health and care system. It is humbling to experience the commitment given in providing healthcare services to the local population and the dedication in doing that.'

The trust's interim chair, Dr Olu Olasode, said: ‘Under Tracey's leadership, the trust has made significant progress in many areas. Its maternity service has been upgraded from inadequate to good by the Care Quality Commission, and it has secured a large programme of investment to improve its buildings, facilities and equipment, including a £29m investment in same day emergency care services at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, to improve access to emergency care.'

Dr Des Holden will continue in the role of acting chief executive at the trust until a permanent appointment is made.

East Kent was issue with a notice of additional licence conditions over governance concerns in April following the resignation of chair Annette Doherty.