Medway’s new health boss has flown in from Australia on a mission: to transform the hospital from a constant cause for concern to a centre of excellence.

Lesley Dwyer started as the foundation trust’s chief executive just four days after travelling 10,000 miles from her home in Queensland.

There, she changed the poorly performing West Moreton Hospital and Health Service into one of the best and is expecting to use that experience to do the same for Medway.

The 55-year-old said: “I am aware of Medway’s reputation and we don’t want to go backwards. It will be better than it was.

“My previous hospital was similar in size, population of the local area, social and economic environment and also in it’s difficulties in attracting staff and providing a high quality service.

“That made me somebody Medway wanted to take on. It also made Medway an attractive proposition for me.

“Medway hospital’s success hinges on the confidence it gives the community and the quality of care.

“Success is for staff to be proud to work here and for us to financially be functioning within our means.

“I am creating a vision of what the hospital will look like, as a centre of excellence.”

Ms Dwyer, who now lives in Wormshill, near Sittingbourne, would not be drawn into outlining any firm plans for the hospital which is still in special measures following a number of damning inspection reports by the Care Quality Commission.

She arrived in month seven of what is an 18 month improvement plan and after 100 days is expected to reveal more concrete steps forward.

“I’m not here to say, ‘Stop, we need to start again’. Since my visit in February for the interview, to now, I’ve already seen great changes. The results speak for themselves, especially in the emergency department.”

Once ranked one of the worst performing A&E units in the country with just 79% being treated within the four hour target time, over the past six weeks, the department has consistently seen more then 90% of patients within the time.

Ms Dwyer leaves behind two adult children in Australia. The pair will be visiting her at Christmas and in the meantime she has a ‘fur family’ of two dogs and a cat.

She added: “It wasn’t a decision I took lightly but I’m here to stay as long as it feels right to make this organisation successful.

“And I’ve never been so welcomed into an organisation as I have here.

“I’ve been getting out and about so all the staff at the hospital know their chief executive looks like and there is so much enthusiasm.”

She was originally a nurse and midwife, she has more than 30 years’ experience in public health at senior levels, and takes over from Phil Barnes.