New medical director and director of quality and safety appointed
Two new directors have been appointed on to the Board at North East Ambulance Service (NEAS).
Dr Kat Noble took up her position as the Trust’s new Medical Director on 31 January, bringing with her more than 20 years’ experience within primary, secondary and pre-hospital care.
Julia Young is due to join the Trust as Director of Quality and Patient Safety on 27 February, having most recently been Director of Nursing with the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System.
Dr Noble’s experience has included being a national advisor for NHS111, medical director for NHS Direct and NHS Pathways and associate medical director for North West Ambulance Service.
She takes on her new role at NEAS on a part-time basis, splitting her time with her continuing role in the emergency department of Sunderland Hospital. She also serves as a clinical associate for the Emergency Care Intensive Support team (NHS Improvement) and a CQC inspector.
On starting her new role, Dr Noble said: “I look forward to working with the executive team towards the delivery of safe, effective care across our continuum of urgent and emergency care.
“I will also work with wider partners to guide a dynamic, engaged and empowered urgent and emergency care workforce, and facilitate healthier choices for the population of the North East.”
Deputy Chief Executive Karen O’Brien said: “We are delighted to have both Kat and Julia join us on the Board at NEAS. They will bring a wealth of knowledge from different parts of the NHS and help us on our journey to take forward our plans for progression and improvement.
“A new post of director of paramedicine has also been created to recognise the unscheduled care and paramedicine workforce. We are required by statute to have a nurse and medic on our Board. However, we have chosen to put in this extra role to give the largest clinical group in our workforce a positive representation on our Board.”
NEAS will become only the fifth ambulance service in the UK to appoint a director of allied health professionals/paramedicine to the Board, which will provide visible and proactive leadership for our clinical workforce