THE new chief executive of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) has started work.
Rob Cooper, who has worked for the trust since 2015, has taken over from Ann Marr OBE.
Mr Cooper has held a number of roles at MWL, including assistant director of operations for medicine, director, and managing director.
He has worked in health and social care for many years, and completed his nursing degree at Liverpool University in 1997.
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He then worked in A&E, vascular surgery, and intensive care as a nurse, before joining MWL.
Mr Cooper said: "Today is a very proud moment for me.
"MWL is a fantastic organisation, with a longstanding history of outstanding care, and a trusted reputation in our local communities.
"I am truly honoured to be chief executive here.
"I’ve been part of MWL for nine years now and over that time I have had the absolute pleasure of working alongside so many amazingly talented staff.
"Every part of the NHS is under significant pressure at the moment and the areas of Merseyside and West Lancashire are no exception.
"My focus will be on making sure that we continue to look after our patients and our staff to the highest standards against this challenging backdrop.
"I’d also like to thank my predecessor, Ann Marr OBE, for her tireless commitment to our patients and staff over her 22 years at the trust.
"Ann transformed Whiston and St Helens hospitals into the world-class facilities they are today, leading the former St Helens and Knowsley Trust to receive its outstanding CQC rating."
Richard Fraser, chairman of MWL, said: "Rob’s unwavering focus on quality, patient care and staff experience has always shone through and I am sure with his leadership the trust will continue to be known as one of the leading organisations in the NHS."
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals serves a population of more than 600,000 people, with a combined workforce of around 9,000 staff.
The trust provides acute and specialist hospital care, intermediate care, and primary care at Whiston, Southport, Ormskirk, St Helens and Newton hospitals, with a wide range of community-based services delivered across the region.
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