A NEW chief executive has been appointed for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP).

Iain Tulley was selected following a gruelling interview process by a panel made up of commissioners, stakeholders and clinicians and is due to take on the role in mid-November.

Mr Tulley, who is currently chief executive of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, said his top priority was to ensure staff and partners all agreed on a "shared vision".

He said: "I relish the prospect of joining the team at AWP. The trust, its commissioners and those people using services are fully committed to improving the quality of local mental health services - and I share this ambition.

"One of my immediate priorities will be to engage with our clinical and non-clinical staff, commissioners, partners in social care and other stakeholders to agree our shared vision for mental health services in Avon and Wiltshire.

He added: "We need to build on current strengths and move forward with a renewed sense of clarity and common purpose to ensure we deliver a better and more coherent set of services to those we are here to serve."

Mr Tulley has 11 years of experience as a chief executive and has been working in healthcare for the past three decades. He began his career in Scotland as a registered mental health nurse and has since held numerous senior posts including that of director of planning and performance for the former Wiltshire Health Authority. He has been actively involved in the development of the National Service Framework for mental health services.

Announcing the appointment AWP chairman Tony Gallagher said: "I am delighted that Iain Tulley will be the trust’s new chief executive. The panel was impressed by his experience, knowledge and insight into the issues facing the Trust and we believe he has the best blend of skills to take the Trust forward. I look forward to working with him to continue to transform AWP and to achieve our goal of becoming a foundation trust."