Heart of England appoints new chair

Les Lawrence, who has been a non-executive director on the trust’s board of directors for more than two years, will take up the position from June this year.

He replaces Lord Philip Hunt, who has been chairman of the West Midlands acute trust since April 2011 and retires in May.

Mr Lawrence was previously cabinet member for children, young people and families at Birmingham City Council, and has chaired both the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust and the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Mr Lawrence said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be named the new chairman of the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

“I am committed to working with patients, staff, governors and the local community to ensure the care provided at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham Chest Clinic, Good Hope Hospital, Solihull Hospital and community services is of the highest standard.”