NHS Trust appoints new finance director

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides specialist mental health and learning disability services across Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, has appointed a new director of finance, Alex Farrell.

Alex has more than 17 years experience working in finance in NHS organisations in West Yorkshire. She is currently finance director at NHS Calderdale, and was previously director of finance and commissioning at East Leeds Primary Care Trust. Alex originally qualified as a doctor but retrained as a Chartered Accountant. She lives in Leeds.

Alex said: "I am delighted to accept the job at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. It is a particularly exciting time to join the Trust as they have just been authorised as a Foundation Trust which brings with it many new challenges and opportunities. The Trust puts quality of care and improving the lives of its service users at the heart of its vision whilst delivering value for money and the best use of public resources. I very much look forward to joining the team."

Chief Executive of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Steven Michael said, ""We are very fortunate to have attracted Alex to the Trust and we are delighted she will be joining our team. As a foundation trust we are now accountable to local people (over 11,000) who have joined us as members as well as to an independent regulator, Monitor. Strong financial leadership at Board level, and sound financial management throughout the organisation, help us demonstrate value for money in providing high quality services for local people who need to use them. Alex has a wealth of valuable experience to offer the Trust and we very much look forward to working with her."  

Alex will take up her post with the Trust on 1st September 2009.