Hospital gets troubleshooter

A leading London hospital embroiled in controversy has replaced its chief executive with a troubleshooter.

Ian Hamilton, chief executive of St George's NHS Trust in south London, is on extended leave and has been replaced indefinitely by Peter Homa, chief executive of the Commission for Health Improvement.

The move follows the sacking of the trust's finance director, Ian Perkin, who was alleged to have revealed that the hospital massaged statistics for cancelled operations.

St George's chairman, Catherine McLoughlin, said Mr Hamilton had been ill for some time.

A trust spokesman said he would be reinstated once his health improved.