Two new non-executive directors for local NHS Trust

South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust is pleased to announce the appointment Mr Lionel Conyers and Mr David Hinchliffe as non-executive directors.

Non-executive directors along with executive directors are responsible for ensuring accountability to the public for the services the Trust manages.

Lionel Conyers, 59, from Mirfield, is a fellow of the institute of chartered accountants and was a former deputy president, vice president and committee member of the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants. He is currently working part-time as a consultant/advisor in the management consultancy sector of Harlicon Limited. Between 2000 and 2002 Lionel was a non-executive of the former Dewsbury Health Care NHS Trust. He has no declared political activity for the last five years.

David Hinchliffe, 57, from Wakefield, was a Member of Parliament for Wakefield (Labour) from 1987 to 2005 and was the Shadow Health Minister for three years. He was also chairman of the Commons Health Select Committee from 1997-2005. David is currently a council member for the N.S.P.C.C. and a chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Advisory Board on Social Care.

Trust chairman Sukhdev Sharma said, "I’m delighted to welcome Lionel and David to the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust. Their experience and skills will be valuable to the Trust as we continue to develop and improve services for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield."

Lionel and David will each receive an annual remuneration of £5,730 and they will serve as non-executive directors from 10th July 2006 – 9th July 2010.