Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has announced the appointment of Debra Gilderdale as the director of operations and nursing on the Trust Board.

Ms Gilderdale, the Trust's deputy director of mental health acute and community services, has served as its interim director of operations and nursing since former chief executive's Simon Large’s retirement in August 2016.

She has a nursing background and has spent more than 30 years in the NHS with experience in multiple senior operational roles within the organisation.

She also has a national reputation and profile for leading change in acute and crisis care, including the development of First Response, which offers mental health crisis support 24 hours a day, seven days a week to vulnerable people needing urgent crisis support.

Ms Gilderdale (pictured) said: “I am passionate about delivering high quality care for local people, whilst working with key partners to transform and improve services."

Trust chairman Michael Smith said: “The Trust is delighted to appoint Debra Gilderdale to the Board. Debra brings extensive knowledge and experience to our organisation, and will continue to provide expertise that is central to helping the Trust achieve its objectives to deliver high quality mental and physical health services for the people we serve.”