A 52-YEAR-old health expert who has maintained an active interest in farming has scooped the top job at West Suffolk Hospital.

Laurence Cawley

A 52-YEAR-old health expert who has maintained an active interest in farming has scooped the top job at West Suffolk Hospital.

Stephen Graves, 52, will take the reins of West Suffolk Hospital later this year following the departure of Chris Bown, who left to take on the top spot at Poole Hospital.

Mr Graves is currently the director of corporate development at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he has worked in senior management positions since 2001.

In Cambridge, Mr Graves has been responsible for strategy, business planning, the hospital's re-development programme, business development, research and development and university and stakeholder engagement.

Roger Quince, chairman of the board at West Suffolk Hospital, said: “Stephen has an excellent record of successful working with clinicians and will bring with him a wealth of experience.

“I am delighted that he will be coming to lead the trust at a very important time in its history as we prepare ourselves to become a foundation trust.”

Mr Graves, who is married with a teenage son and daughter, comes from a Cambridgeshire farming family and is still involved in the family business.

Talking about his new job he said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at West Suffolk Hospital and look forward to the challenges this busy hospital holds and to building on the good work of the previous chief executive.

“I've already met some very talented and dedicated staff and together we will continue to provide a quality service that the people of Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area can be proud of.”

Gwen Nuttall will continue in the role of acting chief executive at the West Suffolk until Mr Graves joins the Trust, at a time that has yet to be announced.