New Hospital Chief Executive Announced

18 March, 2008

The South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Governance Board has approved the appointment of Paula Vasco-Knight as Chief Executive to succeed Tony Parr who is retiring in May.

Mrs Vasco-Knight is currently Deputy Chief Executive at Plymouth Hospitals Trust where she has worked for the past seven years.

Her background is in nursing and she held management positions at three hospitals, in Chorley, Leicester and Nottingham, before joining Plymouth Hospitals Trust as Director of Nursing and Midwifery, later being promoted to Director of Operations and Nursing, Director of Operations and Service Improvement and then Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive.

Her management experience spans A&E, outpatients, surgical services, cancer services and governance, as well as nursing and operations.

She lives in West Devon and is expected to take up the chief executive position, running Torbay Hospital, during the summer.

She commented: "I feel excited and privileged to have been appointed to become the Chief Executive of South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

"Tony Parr is an inspirational Chief Executive and I recognise that I will have big shoes to fill. Tony has led the Trust to great success and I know that I will be joining a very well run organisation with excellent staff who are truly committed to delivering quality care to their patients."

Trust Chairman Peter Hildrew said: "I believe that Paula is a person of outstanding calibre and character who will rapidly win hearts and minds in the Trust when she joins us. She brings with her a depth of experience in the acute hospitals sector and a commitment to excellence."

If you have any queries regarding these press releases, please contact the Communications Manager