New chief executive for Wye Valley

Richard Beeken will take over from interim chief executive Derek Smith, who has been at the Herefordshire trust since September 2012 and departs in June.

Mr Beeken has worked in a number of NHS management roles across the West Midlands, and is currently director of operations and transformation at Dudley Group Foundation Trust.

Wye Valley Trust provides acute and community services across Herefordshire.

In March last year it said it believed it could not become a foundation trust as a stand-alone organisation.

Fresh doubts about its future were raised recently when all three options on a shortlist to secure its long term sustainability were ruled out.  

In a statement Mr Beeken said: “I do not underestimate the size of the challenges ahead for the organisation in a fast changing NHS environment.

“However, I know that the skills, dedication and loyalty of the trust staff will ensure that high quality and responsive services will continue to be delivered whilst we develop long term plans for the trust’s services with our partner organisations.”

The trust has also announced the departure of its medical director, Peter Wilson, who has been in the role for two years and worked for the trust for more than 23 years.