Dudley Group NHS Trust has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.

Diane Wake, the current chief executive of Barnsley Hospital and a nurse by background, has been appointed to run the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust which runs Russells Hall Hospital and the Corbett and Guest Outpatient Centres. 

Her appointment follows the departure of former chief executive Paula Clark who has headed off to the University Hospitals of North Midlands. Trust chairman Jenni Ord said:

“I am delighted to announce we have appointed Diane Wake as the new chief executive of the Trust. Diane will continue as CEO at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for the next three months and join Dudley in April 2017.

"Diane, who has been chief executive of Barnsley Hospital since 2013, has extensive experience in both clinical and leadership roles".

Previously, she was interim CEO at Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, where she also worked as chief operating officer and executive nurse. Diane said she was "thrilled" at being appointed to manage the Dudley Group and added:

"I look forward to making a difference for the patients of Dudley and surrounding areas. I am passionate about making local services right for local people and in Dudley there are lots of opportunities to do just that.

“Working with GPs and other local providers to develop the Multi-speciality Community Provider services will result in ground-breaking changes to the way services are accessed and co-ordinated for patients and their families. At the same time, together with my executive team, we will ensure hospital services continue to perform amongst the best in the country, and are sustainable longer term.

“I am looking forward to meeting as many staff as possible and working with the council of governors to make sure patients and the public’s voices are heard at the board and used to make a difference to services.”

Paul Harrison, who has been acting chief executive of the Dudley Group since October 1, will take on the role of deputy chief executive and medical director.