BOLTON NHS Foundation Trust has appointed its new director of finance.

Annette Walker will replace current director, Simon Worthington, when he takes up a new post at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust at the end of this month.

The new appointment will mean Ms Walker will leave her role as director of finance for Bolton NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), a position she has held for five years.

She said: “The CCG and the trust have achieved a great deal in recent years and there are strong partnerships between the two organisations.

“I am really looking forward to joining the trust and working closely with the staff in all the services so we continue to get the best care for our patients.

“I feel very fortunate to work in Bolton.

“There is a real appetite and ability to lead the way, innovate and try new things, which is essential in these really challenging times for our NHS, whilst always putting patient care first.”

Mr Worthington was the winner of the Healthcare Financial Management Association Director of Finance in 2015, an award that Ms Walker went on to win last year.

It is anticipated that she will join the trust later this summer.