THE new NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney chief executive has declared his ambition to drive through healthcare improvements.Dr Sushil Jathanna, started work at the primary care trust today and is already relishing the challenge of his new role.

THE new NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney chief executive has declared his ambition to drive through healthcare improvements.

Dr Sushil Jathanna, started work at the primary care trust today and is already relishing the challenge of his new role.

The 52-year-old takes on the role after working as a director at NHS North East Essex. He replaces Dr Paul Zollinger-Read, who has been interim chief executive for the past five months.

Dr Jathanna has a wealth of experience in both the NHS and private medial sector along with specialist knowledge of public health.

He said: “I am delighted to have started work with NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

“The PCT has made great progress over the past six months, and I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues to build on the work which has already been done while finding ways to drive through further improvement.

“Great Yarmouth and Waveney has some very specific health needs, with a high prevalence of risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption and considerable deprivation in certain areas.

“As well as working to reduce inequalities across the PCT area, I am also looking forward to helping make health services easier to access.

“Along with our partners in the NHS and outside, we will be finding effective ways to transform our services and make them more convenient while bringing care closer to people's homes.

“The NHS will face significant financial challenges over the coming years - we need to make sure we plan ahead and find different ways of working so that the quality of the services we commission on behalf of our patients is not compromised.”

Dr Jathanna began his medical career as a senior house officer before becoming a registrar in medicine for the elderly at West Norwich Hospital.

After specialising, he went on to join Colchester and Tendring PCTs as director of public health. Dr Jathanna also spent six years in the private sector, as managing director of Care UK's healthcare division.