SHROPSHIRE Community Health Trust (Shropcom) has announced the appointment of a new interim chief executive.

David Stout has taken over the role, replacing Jan Ditheridge, who is leaving to take up a new role as chief executive of Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Jan will depart after almost seven years at the helm of Shropcom, which is responsible for a range of community services across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

She has overseen years of sustained improvement at the organisation, and her work was recognised last year by the Care Quality Commission, which awarded the Trust a rating of good across all of its services.

The baton now passes to David, who is already well known within the local health system.

He is currently interim programme director for the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, having first come to the county a year ago as interim accountable officer for Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

Nuala O'Kane, chairman of Shropcom, said: "I am delighted to have been able to appoint someone of David's calibre as our interim CEO.

"He brings a wealth of experience to this type of role and I have no doubt that he will lead us successfully through the next phase of our growth and development.

"He certainly has big shoes to fill," she added. "Jan has been a constant source of support and encouragement to me from when I first joined the Trust as a non-executive director four and a half years ago, to more latterly since I took over as chairman in February last year.

"She has been an exceptional CEO to work with and I will miss her very much.

"I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that Sheffield will be lucky to have her."

Meanwhile, David added: "I am delighted to take on the interim chief executive role at Shropcom.

"Having worked in Shropshire for the last 10 months I know that Shropcom has a pivotal role to play in the development of integrated care in the county and in taking forward the prevention and placed-based care strategy set out in the Long Term Plan.

"I look forward to working with the board, our staff and our partners in the coming months."