NHS England fails to recruit south west LAT director

Anthony Farnsworth, local area team director for Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire LAT has been appointed as interim director of the Devon and Cornwall LAT for six months.

However, a spokeswoman for NHS England no decisions had been made regarding recruiting substantively to the role.

Mr Farnsworth was previously chief executive of Torbay Care Trust. He will replace Steve Moore who had filled the post on an interim basis after an earlier recruitment process also failed to lead to an appointment.

In a note informing local NHS leaders of the arrangement, outgoing regional director for the south Andrea Young said: “Whilst it is not necessarily the intention to establish this as a permanent arrangement we will not be advertising the post again this year. This provides continuity through the planning round 2014-2015 and the necessary stability for relationships to continue to mature across the area.”

She said it was “hugely advantageous” that Mr Farnsworth is “known to key partners in the area” but stressed the change would “support the continuation of two distinct area teams with directors continuing to take specific responsibilities”.

Ms Young has now left to become chief executive at North Bristol Trust. She has been replaced by John Bewick.