Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCHC) has appointed Dr Venu Harilal to the role of medical director.

Dr Harilal has worked in the NHS for 20 years, including in the Colman Centre for Specialist Rehabilitation Services (CCSRS) since 2005 and has been the clinical lead for the speciality since 2013. He has been interim medical director for NCHC since September this year.

Dr Harilal said: 'Working with the trust board has given me a real opportunity to scope out how best to serve the trust, and I'm delighted to have the opportunity to further this as medical director.

'I'll be working with colleagues to support the trust health and care strategy to achieve safe and effective integrated patient pathways, make sure that staff and patient experiences are at the forefront of any change and continue to build on the excellent work of my predecessors to be a guardian of the medical appraisal process.

'My experiences of collaboration and communication with colleagues across patient pathways will be of great value in working across our Norfolk and Waveney system to ensure optimum pathways and clinically sustainable services for all who rely upon us.'

Chief executive, Roisin Fallon-Williams, said: 'I am pleased and excited that Venu will be taking on the role of medical director, he has brought new insights to the board of directors while he has been acting as interim, and the permanent role will give him an opportunity to broaden and deepen his contributions.'