GLOUCESTERSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Peter Lachecki as their new chairman.

Peter is currently a non-executive director and deputy chair at Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust, which is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission.

He chairs the Quality & Safety Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee.

Peter also has his own executive coaching consultancy and has held previous senior marketing and management roles at Kraft Foods.

Peter, who lives near Tewkesbury, said: “I feel very privileged to have been appointed as Chairman of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

"I have great respect for the work which staff do to deliver excellent patient care, day in, day out and I look forward to bringing my experience from both within and outside the NHS to help them continue.

“I am eager to work with the Board and Council of Governors to address current challenges, and to work collaboratively with external stakeholders for the benefit of all communities in Gloucestershire needing our services.”

The appointment was made by a panel of the trust governors following interviews this week.

Lead governor, Alan Thomas, said: “The Governors are delighted to welcome Peter to the trust as chairman.

"We are confident that his style will complement the open and transparent approach to leadership already in evidence from our new chief executive.

"In the challenging environment the trust finds itself in, Peter brings a wealth of varied experience which will add tremendous value.”

Deborah Lee, chief executive of the trust, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Peter.

"The chair and chief executive relationship is critical to the success of any organisation and I am confident that in Peter, we have appointed a chair who I will forge a very positive working relationship with, while also personally benefiting from his considerable skills and experience in developing me as a new CEO.”

Discussions are now underway to confirm Peter’s start date.