Katrina Percy (pictured) was given a job at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust after stepping down as chief executive

The boss of a scandal-hit NHS trust has quit less than two weeks after he finally admitted a £240,000-a-year job was created for its chief executive when she had to resign.

Tim Smart, interim chairman of the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, yesterday said he was standing aside for ‘personal reasons’ and was thanked for his contribution to the trust in a statement.

He stands down after just four months in the job following heavy criticism of the trust’s decision to reinstate former chief executive Katrina Percy as a ‘strategic adviser’ on the same £185,000-a-year salary and £52,500 pension-related benefits – yet with far less responsibility.

Miss Percy, 43, was forced to leave her original role after it was revealed the trust failed to probe more than 1,000 unexplained deaths.

She said media coverage made her position ‘untenable’. But when her new role emerged, Mr Smart admitted she was the sole candidate.

However, he insisted she was ‘uniquely qualified’ for the 12-month post advising GP practices in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.