Roger Paffard's resignation from the top job at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust comes after months of angry protests at planned cuts.

The cutbacks are being introduced to allow the trust to manage a multi-million pound debt.

Mr Paffard, who joined the trust as chief executive in August 2003, will stay in post until the end of the year.

'Escalating demands'

Carol Pilsbury from Unison, a union that represents hospital workers in Lincolnshire, said: "At the moment it would that appear that with Mr Pafford leaving, that the Trust board could be rudderless at this stage.

"And it's crucial that we keep the momentum going, working towards trying to resolve this very difficult situation that we're in.

Unison has already expressed concern about the "crisis in healthcare" in the county, saying lives could be at risk from lack of services.

Those comments came after complaints from staff at Grantham Hospital about the effects of a ward closure on services.

Trust chairwoman Jenny Green said she was "aware for some months of the increasing conflict between the escalating demands of his (Mr Paffard's) role as Chief Executive in the current climate of significant change and Roger's personal circumstances.

"It is my intention to appoint an interim Chief Executive to start in the New Year whilst we start the process of recruiting his successor."

The trust runs hospitals in Grantham, Lincoln, Louth and Boston.