Wilkinson-Brice has an NHS career spanning more than 36-year years, previously working as a nurse, for the National NHS Estates Team and Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In September 2019, she joined NHS England, and was senior responsible officer for health and wellbeing for all NHS staff at the beginning of the pandemic.

Wilkinson-Brice will retire from her role with NHS England before beginning her new position with the trust on 1 June.

She said: ‘Fuelled by curiosity and a desire to learn and understand the breadth of the NHS I have enjoyed a diverse career to date and have been incredibly fortunate to work with some amazing people - patients, families, and colleagues. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the talented staff in the trust as we all seek to improve care for patients'

Debbie Richards, trust chief executive, added: ‘We are very fortunate to have attracted someone with such a diverse, illustrious NHS career and I believe the Trust will undoubtedly benefit from that.'

Wilkinson-Brice has been appointed to the trust for three years.