HOSPITAL chief John Goulston revealed he was quitting today, weeks after health bosses unveiled the planned closure of King George A&E.

The chief executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust had battled to rein in a deficit which has accrued to �140m since 2005.

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals chief executive Averil Dongworth, is to take over at the helm of BHR next month.

Mr Goulson is to become head of provider development at NHS London where he will help health trusts to grow in the capital.

The scrapping of King George A&E in Goodmayes was put on ice before last year’s general election, but umbrella organisation Health for North East London approved its closure in principle on December 15.

Mr Goulson said: “BHR has made great progress on improving quality, recruiting skilled staff and working more efficiently during my three years as chief executive.

“There is more work to do, particularly in reducing our historic deficit and developing the trust’s foundation trust trajectory.”