New chief executive appointed for PCT

HEALTH bosses at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney have appointed an experienced doctor as their new chief executive.

Sushil Jathanna, 52, will join the Primary Care Trust (PCT) from November 1, replacing Paul Zollinger-Read, Interim Chief Executive, since the departure of Mike Stonard in May this year.

Dr Jathanna has a breadth of experience in the public and private medical sector. He began his medical career as a senior house officer before becoming a registrar in medicine for the elderly at West Norwich Hospital. He then specialised in public health medicine and went on to become the director of public health in Colchester and Tendring PCTs.

After working in the private sector for six years, leading Care UK's healthcare division as managing director, Dr Jathanna was keen to rejoin the NHS because of his passion to serve the community.

He said: 'The strong public service ethos of the NHS is something I admire. I want to bring my NHS background, which included the role of director of public health, as well as my private sector expertise into the Trust at what is an interesting and challenging time across the National Health Service.'

Dr Sushil Jathanna is currently working as interim director of world class commissioning transformation for NHS North East Essex.

'As a medically trained doctor with management experience I was attracted to the position and I believe we can build on the progress made and really make a difference to patients,' he added.

David Edwards, chairman of NHS GYW, said he was delighted to appoint Dr Jathanna to the Trust.

'With a health services background in both the NHS and private health sectors Sushil is ideally placed to take the organisation forward, building on recent successes,' he said.

'Sushil's experience at a senior level in hospital and public health medicine, together with his commercial acumen as a managing director in the private health care sector, equips him to lead the trust at this crucial time in our development."