A NEW chief executive has been appointed to the NHS Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Stephen Childs is currently the managing director of the North of England Commissioning Support unit (NECS). He will continue in that role and will take on the position in Cumbria three days a week.

Mr Childs started as a fundholding practice manager in London, before becoming a director in primary and community care trusts in the north east and then interim chief executive at NHS Tees.

Mr Childs said: “I look forward to working with the team here. I am very well aware of the very challenging times for the NHS in Cumbria, and I want to help our health system meet those challenges in the months ahead so patients here get the best possible service.”

Dr Hugh Reeve who has been interim chief clinical officer reverts to his role as clinical chair of NHS Cumbria CCG.