A NEW chief executive has been appointed to Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.

Cara Charles-Barks will join the Trust in January 2017, replacing Peter Hill who will retire early in the New Year.

Cara has a nursing background and a wide range of clinical and management experience in both the NHS and Australian healthcare systems.

She qualified as a registered nurse in Australia in 1991.

Following this she worked in the UK for three years at St Mark’s Hospital in London.

On her return to Australia she was appointed nurse consultant at Ashford Community Hospital in Adelaide, and then clinical practice manager.

In 2000, she moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which is part of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service, as clinical nurse manager where she was then appointed nursing director.

In 2008 she moved to the UK and joined Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a year later was promoted to deputy chief operating officer.

Cara moved to Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust in 2013 as chief operating officer, where she is also currently deputy chief executive officer.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be appointed Chief Executive and looking forward to joining the Trust in January, working closely with all the staff and partners in health and social care.

"I’m impressed by the pride and commitment of staff in Salisbury and the close connection that the hospital has with the local community.

"I identify strongly with the organisation’s values of friendliness, responsiveness and professionalism and want to build on the Trust’s strengths and reputation for providing innovative and patient centred care.”

Nick Marsden, Chairman of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are very pleased to have appointed Cara who has a wide range of clinical and management experience which will complement the management team we have here in Salisbury.

"While these are challenging times for the NHS, Cara has energy and enthusiasm which will stand us in good stead as we continue to develop services that meet the changing needs of our local and wider community.”