THE Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a new chief executive. 

Therese Patten, currently deputy chief executive and director of strategy at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, will join the Trust in mid-September. 

She will succeed Brent Kilmurray, who announced his departure from the Trust in April. 

Ms Patten joined Southport and Ormskirk from Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in 2016, and previously worked at 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Community Health. She also spent a short period working in the private sector with GP provider companies.

Before joining the NHS in 1999, Ms Patten spent nine years working in health development in Zimbabwe, Somaliland and Pakistan.

She said: “I am excited to be joining Bradford District Care Trust where I will be able to bring all my experience and learning nationally and internationally to the CEO role.

"I am passionate about inclusion and will continue to be a strong advocate for diversity for the staff, patients and population of Bradford and districts.”

Trust chair Cathy Elliott added: ”I’m delighted that we have appointed Therese to the role.  She brings a wealth of experience from a broad range of NHS settings, working collaboratively with health, care and community providers to drive service improvements. 

"I am looking forward to working with Therese, who joins a strong executive team with a collective vision of connecting people to the right care, when and where they need it.”

The Trust’s chief operating officer, Patrick Scott, will continue as interim chief executive until mid-September.