NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has appointed a new chairman.

Emma Woollett, who has extensive experience in the health sector, has taken on the role.

Ms Woollett was previously chairman of Swansea University Health Board, chairman of the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board, and a trustee at the NHS Confederation.

She said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as chair of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, and having heard about some of the great work taking place across the ICB to improve health and care for the population, I look forward to meeting many new colleagues over the coming weeks.

"I believe the ICB has a clear vision and strong ambitions to improve quality, transform care in the community and address the challenges our NHS services face across acute, mental health and primary care.

"I am excited to be able to draw on my previous experience to help further the progress that has already been made."

Ms Woollett graduated from the University of Cambridge and has worked as an independent management consultant, providing strategic support to NHS providers across the country.

She has also been a non-executive director and vice chair at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Ms Woollett has a keen interest in fostering the exchange of ideas between organisations and sectors to discover innovative solutions.

She said: "I look forward to supporting even more collaboration across health and care to achieve the central ambition of improving the health and wellbeing of people in Lancashire and South Cumbria, working with partners across health, care, local authorities and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector."

Before her move to Lancashire and South Cumbria, Ms Woollett was interim chair at Swansea Bay University Health Board in 2019 and became the substantive chairman the following year.

ICB chief executive Kevin Lavery welcomed Ms Woollett to the team.

He said: "Our core ambition is to have a high-quality, community-centred health and care system by 2035, using the resources that we already have at our disposal to improve outcomes and the health of our patients and wider population.

"With her vast experience in supporting public sector and charitable organisations to navigate and embrace change in line with clear strategic goals, I am sure that Emma will encourage a solution-focused approach to the ongoing development of our health and care system.

"Her extensive knowledge of healthcare organisations and the challenges we face will also prove invaluable."

He added that he is looking forward to working with Ms Woollett.

Ms Woollett will officially start her role on September 1, taking over from acting chairman Roy Fisher.

Mr Fisher had stepped in after David Flory's appointment as chairman of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust in March.