A CUMBRIAN health trust has appointed six new senior medics.

The Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which runs cottage hospitals and community health services, has welcomed them to a range of operational areas.

Dr Craig Melrose, a practising GP from the county, is the new associate medical director for the trust.

He said: “The community services sit at the centre of our NHS and are vital if we are to achieve the aim of ensuring people are as happy, healthy and as independent as they possibly can be.

“I am excited about my new role at this very pivotal point for our local NHS and hope that my experience as a GP combined with the experience of working with patients and NHS colleagues all over the county as medical director at CHoC (Cumbria Health on Call) and with NHS England will all help me to make a positive difference”.

Dr Raj Verma has recently joined as associate medical director and paediatric lead for the children and families care group. He has more than 30 years’ experience working with paediatrics with a special interest in autism, behavioural paediatrics and cerebral palsy.

Four new consultants have also joined the county trust’s specialist care units. They are Matt Phillips, who has joined the sexual health team; Amy Gadoud (palliative care team); Muhammad Asam (diabetes team); and Steven Wilkinson (the learning disabilities team).

The trust’s chief executive Claire Molloy said: “I’m really delighted to welcome these colleagues to our trust.

“I know that each of them has a great contribution to make to our teams and to the patients we serve. We have an ambition to attract the best professionals to work in our services and I’m confident that these clinicians are outstanding.”

The trust’s medical director Dr Andrew Brittlebank added: “How welcome these new colleagues are, but this is only a start on the work we have to do to attract more doctors, nurses and therapists to Cumbria.”