WARRINGTON and Halton Hospital Trust has appointed professor Simon Constable as chief executive following Mel Pickup's departure last month.

After an intensive assessment process, professor Constable will take up his appointment with immediate effect as he has been acting chief executive since Mel Pickup left the Trust.

He joined the Trust as medical director in 2015 from the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals and was appointed deputy CEO in February 2016.

The Trust’s chairman and chair of the council of governors, Steve McGuirk CBE DL said: “The Board moved quickly to recruit and appoint our new chief executive and we are confident that Simon has the vision, ambition and leadership qualities required to lead the Trust on its continuing journey to outstanding.

"I know that our staff will be delighted to hear of his appointment and together we wish Simon every success in his new role.”

The governors also approved the updated FT constitution, changing the Trust’s name to Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, the culmination of three years’ work to develop and diversify the Trust’s 4,400 workforce to meet the future needs of a fast growing and ageing patient population.

The Trust’s academic partner, the University of Chester, has endorsed the Trust’s Teaching status.

Mr McGuirk added: "This has been a monumental year for the Trust with the CQC awarding a clean-sweep ‘good’ across our inspected services in July.

“Becoming a Teaching Trust is an important milestone on our journey as our extensive and diverse teaching opportunities will make our hospitals even more attractive places to work when candidates have more than one choice."