THE trust running Worcestershire's hospitals has announced it has a new chairman.

The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has brought in Mark Yates as its new chairman, who will take up his post on April 1.

Mr Yates, who lives near Malvern, succeeds Chris Burdon and will leave his current role as non-executive director and vice chairman of the trust.

He said: "I would firstly like to pay tribute to Chris Burdon who, in his role as Chairman, has helped lead the Health and Care Trust with such distinction for the last 10 years.

"The Trust has had an excellent track record over that time and I am really looking forward to working with the team to continue to develop and improve the services it provides.

"I have a good knowledge of our local healthcare system and of the challenges we face, but I also understand the communities we serve and I am really excited to get to know the teams across Herefordshire and Worcestershire so we can support them to continue doing the vital work they do."

Mr Yates spent more than 30 years in the fire and rescue service, as well as his final six years serving as chief fire officer for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

He has been involved in local healthcare following his retirement from the service in 2016, including chairing the local Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) prior to becoming a Board member at the Acute Trust.

The STP brought together all local health and care organisations to develop and improve services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Sarah Dugan, chief executive at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Trust. He has extensive knowledge of our local communities and of the challenges and opportunities we face.

"Over the next few years we will be building more formally on the excellent relationships developed between all local healthcare organisations and Mark’s experience and understanding of our local system and services will be key in supporting this work.

"I would also like to pay tribute to Chris who has provided such strong and stable leadership for the last 10 years and there is no doubt the services we provide to local people have been greatly enhanced as a result of his Chairmanship.

"Alongside Mark we will be relentless in our drive to build on the legacy Chris leaves behind and I know everyone at the Trust will join me in thanking him for the huge contribution he has made to our local NHS.”