[P]rofessor Robin Talbot has been appointed as the Interim Chair for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT).
Professor Talbot joins the Trust with much experience of working within health care organisations, including, being a partner governor at CPFT and holding the former roles as Chair for Lancashire and Morecambe Community Health Council and Lancashire Primary Care Group. Professor Talbot has also worked as a Governor at Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust.
Professor Talbot is shortly due to retire from his current position as Executive Dean at the University of Cumbria where he also undertook the role of Dean for the Faculty of Health, Medical Sciences and Social Care.
Professor Talbot said: “Im delighted to have been given this opportunity to work at Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. I have a great interest in health care and have over 25 years of experience to bring to the role.
“I am extremely passionate and focused on improving patient care and I am looking forward to supporting the delivery of quality services that fit the needs of all Cumbrian patients and service users. I have particular interests within community-based health services and health research and feel through my experiences I can contribute to building on the good progress already made at the Trust”.
Jill Stannard, Non-Executive Director adds: “We are thrilled with the appointment of Professor Talbot as Interim Chair and are looking forward to welcoming him into the Trust. He holds a wealth of experience, an extensive skillset and collaborative approach which will support the Trust in future plans and transformations.”
The process to appoint Professor Talbot as the new Interim Chair was extensive and involved a thorough appointment procedure which was then approved at the Trust’s Governor Council. Professor Talbot will take up the position in September and a key focus for his role will be to drive forward developments within the Trust that will shape the future of services.
Mike Taylor, who has been the Chair of the Trust for the past six years was due to come to the end of his term of office in October, however he is now leaving at the end of this month.