Cooper, who is also chief executive of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals (MWL), has extensive experience in health and care. After receiving his nursing degree from Liverpool University in 2001, he worked in several clinical and operational management roles across the North West, before becoming assistant director of operations for Medicine at MWL. He was also the chief operating officer and managing director.

Cooper will be taking over from Liz Bishop, who has held the position for the past three years, and will start his new role on 1 April 2025.

Tracey Cole, programme director at Cheshire and Merseyside Diagnostics Programme, said: "Rob has been involved in the Diagnostics Programme through numerous projects and is ready to hit the ground running as we work to continue the great strides we've made under Liz's leadership.

‘Liz has been a brilliant SRO leading us through some big transformational changes and helping us to grow as a programme and we want to thank her for her everything she has helped us achieve.'