An interim chief executive officer of a health trust has been given a permanent position.

Chris Oliver, who has been the interim CEO of Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust for six months, has been offered the permanent CEO job.

The appointment was made following a challenging and robust recruitment process which included a series of interviews with staff, service users, board members, trust governors and external partners, including the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS England.

Chris had been acting as interim CEO from October 3, having joined the trust in July 2020, as chief operating officer and Deputy CEO.

Prior to joining the organisation, he had an established career in senior leadership roles having worked in the NHS for over 20 years, including at Mid Cheshire Hospitals and earlier at Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

Chair, David Fillingham, said: “Since commencing his interim role, Chris has demonstrated exemplary leadership values.

“He has a strong focus on inclusion and strives to do the best for our patients at all times.

“I have no doubt that the knowledge, skills and experience that Chris has already brought to the trust over the last six months will be of huge benefit to us going forward.”

On hearing the news, Chris said: "I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the substantive CEO so I can continue to lead the trust, improving care for our service users and patients but also in making the trust a fantastic place to work.

"Though the challenges we face in the NHS are still very real, this remains a promising time for the trust as we continue on our improvement journey by working alongside our wider health and care partners within Lancashire and South Cumbria.”