Health and Care Trust announces new Chairman

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust have announced its new chairman.

Mark Yates will take up his position on April 1^st, succeeding Chris Burdon whose term of office ends on March 31^st. 

Mark, who lives near Malvern, spent over 32 years in the fire and rescue service, including his final 6 years as Chief Fire Officer of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service. 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.

Mark succeeds Chris Burdon who has been chairman of the Trust since it was formed in 2011. 

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."