Former tsar for older people set to take up new NHS role

Professor Ian Philp will take up his new role as chief medical officer at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust on Monday.

Prof Philp, who spent eight years as the national clinical director for older people and has also advised the World Health Organisation, recently worked as the medical director at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

He said: “I’m excited about starting work at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and am very much looking forward to meeting the staff and learning more about some of the great things which are going on in our hospitals across the area.

“I understand both Hull and the East Riding have their own specific health challenges, but I’m looking forward to tackling these with the help of our clinicians and external partners so that we may further improve the care we provide to people across East Yorkshire and beyond.”

Another senior health appointment in Hull has been announced by the city council.

Julia Weldon has been named as the new director of public health in Hull and will begin her role in the autumn on a salary of £115,000.

Mrs Weldon, who replaces the interim director Andrew Taylor, joins from Redcar and Cleveland, where she is director of public health and lead advisor on health.

She began her career in nursing as a junior sister at Pinderfields Hospital Trust in Wakefield and has also worked at the Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery at Leeds University as training programme director.

The chairman of the health and well-being board, Coun Colin Inglis, said: “This is a critical and very welcome appointment for Hull.

“Julia is an experienced director and a highly-qualified public health professional who has demonstrated a passion and commitment to improving health and wellbeing throughout her career.

“She is clear about bringing all of those qualities to Hull for the benefit of our communities and residents.

“Julia understands the challenges we face and is brilliantly equipped to help us to meet them.”

Responsibility for public health transferred to local authorities from the NHS in April.