New health trust chief

A HEALTH trust has appointed a new chairman after his predecessor resigned following poor results in a health check.David Edwards, who has 37 years of experience in the NHS, has taken up the position of chairman of the primary care trust, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

A HEALTH trust has appointed a new chairman after his predecessor resigned following poor results in a health check.

David Edwards, who has 37 years of experience in the NHS, has taken up the position of chairman of the primary care trust, NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Mr Edwards' most recent role was two and a half years as a non-executive director at the James Paget University Hospital's NHS Foundation Trust. He was also a member of the hospital's audit committee.

Mr Edwards, who was awarded an OBE for services to healthcare in 2005, said he was looking forward to the next four years.

“I am delighted to be working to improve the health of people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney,” he said. “It is a real privilege. I am very excited about and taking up this new challenge and working with the team at the PCT to commission and deliver excellent services for patients.”

Mr Edwards served as a governor of the University of East Anglia and chairs the university's audit committee. He is also chairman of the diabetes network in Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Previously, he was chief executive of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, and of the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.

The trust's previous chairman, Bernard Williamson, who had held the post for two years since the trust was formed, resigned in October. His departure followed a report by the Healthcare Commission which rated the trust as one of the worst in England, although the board said the “weak” rating was due to mistakes made in the administrative system.

Vice chairman Keith Crews performed the role of caretaker chairman in the interim.

Michael Stonard, chief executive of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said Mr Edwards' experience would make him a great asset, saying: “Our aim is to help the population we serve have the fastest improving health in England, and David's expertise will be instrumental in helping us achieve that goal.”