ONE of the country's highest profile health officials has been appointed medical director for Morecambe Bay’s three hospitals.

Dr David Walker, who is deputy chief medical officer for England, has been a medical consultant since 1996 and is a member of the Royal College of Physicians and the Faculty of Public Health.

He has experience of the UK health system from working at a senior level across different regions of the country and also brings with him a unique insight into healthcare from other parts of the world after working on four different continents.

He has also been an executive director in the NHS for 12 years, eight as a medical director..

The appointment of Dr Walker to the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust follows the retirement of George Nasmyth. He expects to take up his post by the end of the year.

Dr Walker said: “I am really pleased to be joining the trust at this time. In this role I will be able to affect what happens on the front line of our hospitals. I think the trust is going in the right direction and share its vision to ensure its hospitals are great places to be cared for; and great places to work. I’m looking forward to meeting my new colleagues and working with them to improve standards of care, not just in the hospital, but right across the Morecambe Bay area.”