A NEW chairman of the region’s ambulance trust has been appointed.

Professor Ian Cumming will join West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) when he leaves his role as chief executive for Health Education England, the education and training organisation for the NHS, at the end of March 2020 for an initial three years.

Prof Cumming takes over the reins of the ambulance trust from current chairman Sir Graham Meldrum who was appointed in 2007.

Prof Cumming said: “After 38 years in the NHS, including 25 years as an NHS chief executive, I feel that the time is right to pursue new goals.

“The opportunity to remain in the NHS while also taking up an academic role is the perfect opportunity for my next career step.

“I have had a personal interest in pre-hospital care from many years and well remember meeting WMAS chief executive Anthony Marsh in 2009 to talk about how we could improve care at a time when patients are arguably at their most vulnerable.

“What is notable is that WMAS has delivered on all of those discussions including developing their staff so that there is a paramedic on every ambulance; having a modern fleet; and the introduction of ‘Make Ready’ hubs to improve efficiency.

“WMAS already has a real focus on keeping the trust at the forefront of developing patient care and I am looking forward to helping them continue that journey. As we move towards more care at home, I want to focus with the team at WMAS on how we can build on the integration of 111, but also increase the care that is provided at a time of need.”

Anthony Marsh, chief executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said Prof Cumming has been hugely supportive of the ambulance service in recent years and was delighted to see him appointed.

Mr Marsh also paid tribute to outgoing chairman Sir Graham Meldrum who he said had played a pivotal role in the trust’s development for more than a decade.