Norfolk and Suffolk's mental health trust has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.

Michael Scott will be taking up the new role at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) by mid-2014.

Mr Scott is currently chief executive of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C).

Making the announcement, NSFT chairman Gary Page said: 'I couldn't be more delighted that we have attracted someone of Michael's calibre and experience to lead the trust. He is hugely respected locally and nationally and brings an energy and enthusiasm, combined with practical experience of the NHS, to the role.'

It is a challenging period for the mental health trust, which has cut 400 jobs as part of a radical redesign to reduce its budget by 20%.

Last month the 2013 NHS national staff survey results revealed more than half of mental health staff in Norfolk and Suffolk say they have suffered work-related stress in the last year.

Mr Page added: 'Among a host of excellent candidates, Michael was a clear first choice in terms of strong leadership, directly applicable experience, and an impressive track record in bringing together best practice in strategic engagement and partnership.

'Michael has played a key role in making the community trust the success it is today and I believe he is someone who will enable our trust to meet the demands of these challenging times.

'His practical knowledge will help us to meet our ambition to address very real financial constraints and improve staff morale, while keeping the patient at the heart of a redesigned service.'

Mr Scott, who has more than 30 years' leadership experience in the NHS and has led NCH&C since January 2012, said: 'I am really pleased and excited to be joining NSFT. I am impressed with many of the trust's innovations with regard to dementia care and treating people in their own homes where practicable.

'More services and better care, in or near people's homes, is what patients tell us they want.'

He added that he wants to see even more integration between health and social care services, and stronger partnership working between mental health services and primary care to benefit patients.

He said: 'Mental health services play such an important role in our community and I know, from experience within my own family, how vital they can be to people in distress.'

Mr Scott has experience across social care, the NHS, including as chief executive of acute hospital trusts, and in the Department of Health. He is currently chairman of the NHS Confederation's Community Health Services Forum. This leading role strives to inform national policy and further improve NHS community services.

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