Kate Shields has been appointed as chief executive at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

She was selected from a strong field of candidates following an interview process which included presentations to senior clinicians, external stakeholders and independent interview panel members.

Kate came to Cornwall to support the executive team when the Trust was placed in special measures in 2017 and has been interim chief executive since last July.

She said: “I am delighted to be confirmed in post and look forward to continuing to support all who work at RCHT to provide the brilliant health service and care the people of Cornwall deserve.”

Before coming to Cornwall, Kate, a former registered nurse and mental health nurse, held several significant leadership roles including director of strategy, partnerships and reconfiguration at University Hospitals Leicester, regional director of specialised commissioning for NHS England and the national head of specialised commissioning.

Chairwoman Mairi Mclean, whose own appointment was announced at the public Trust board meeting last week, said: "The Trust Board is delighted to announce Kate’s appointment.

"The experience Kate has already gained from her time at RCHT, and the positive working relationships that have been established across the health and care system in Cornwall, provides much needed continuity and the opportunity to build on the progress that has been made with the Trust improving its CQC rating.

“We all aspire to providing the best acute and community care we can achieve; and to demonstrating our values by the way we treat everyone.”