The NHS in north Cumbria has appointed two new non-executive directors.
David Allen and Susan Mckenna have successfully being appointed as the Trust’s latest non-executive directors following a recruitment process approved by NHS Improvement. David has already taken up the role and Susan joins the trust on 6 January 2020.
David Allen is currently the Chief Executive of Cumbria Council of Voluntary Service and prior to this he was the Chief Executive of the Faculty of Public Health (of the 3 Royal Colleges of Physicians) during 2013 to 2018.
His other previous positions also included being director and a number of senior management positions at the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
David is also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
David said: “I am thrilled to be invited to take on this position at what is such an exciting and challenging time for the NHS. It is clear to me that both the voluntary sector and health organisations in Cumbria want a stronger, better relationship and I am looking forward to helping however I can.”
Susan Mckenna has spent the last 36 years as a nurse within clinical care or management and leadership roles in both physical and mental health and holds current registration in both. She retired from her previous role as Chief Operating Officer at South West London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust in December 2019 and previously was Interim Director of Nursing at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
Susan has also held senior management roles with various NHS Trusts in the past and has spent most of her working life in the Lancashire area.
Susan Mckenna, said: “I am truly delighted to take up this position within the trust. It is a really exciting time to join and I am hoping to learn from the expertise within the Cumbria system and use my previous knowledge and experience to add value where I can. It is clear to me that we now have a great opportunity to improve the health outcomes for north Cumbria people.”
Independent non-executive directors from outside the organisation sit on the Trust Board together with the team of executive directors. They collectively lead the Trust, making sure that full and effective control over the Trust’s business is maintained.
Non-executive appointments to NHS trusts are made by NHS Improvement and are subject to the Governance Code for Public Appointments. NHS Improvement ensures that all appointments to NHS trust boards throughout England are made in a way that is open, transparent and fair to candidates.
