A new Chairman has been appointed to Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital as well as community health services across Stockport.

Adrian Belton brings a wealth of public and private sector experience, at both national and regional level, to the organisation. He has held chief executive roles at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and FERA, formerly the national Food and Environment Research Agency. Adrian led the merger of four organisations to create FERA, and he also brings integration experience from his times as an executive director of Nottingham City Council and subsequently in the creation of Natural England as a new non-departmental public body.

Adrian previously worked at board level within banking and financial services, with risk director roles at Barclays and the Bradford and Bingley Group.

In addition, he has held non-executive roles over the last 10 years. These include chairman of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and a lay member on the Council of Sheffield University, where he sits on the audit committee.

In his new role, Adrian will oversee a £270 million annual budget and the treatment and care of 580,000 patients a year from across Stockport and the High Peak. He will play a key role in driving forward ambitious plans to provide integrated health and social care services closer to people’s homes.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has over 5,000 staff and is the second largest employer in Stockport. The appointment was made by the Trust’s Council of Governors, which represents people across the community, after a competitive interview process.

Adrian Belton said,

“I feel proud and privileged to take this appointment at such an exciting and pivotal time.

“I am well aware that the NHS faces significant challenges in terms of demand and resources, while striving to improve high quality care to patients. That’s why I was especially attracted to this role at Stockport, being at the forefront of developing new ways of caring for patients, which means we will be able to strengthen NHS services for the future.

“There is a broad agreement, as well as great enthusiasm, to improve care through providing more joined up and better services closer to people’s homes. Our approach should mean that we will become recognised as a beacon of excellence. By working together across organisations in the interest of patient, great things can be achieved”.

In his spare time, Adrian enjoys cycling, music and mountaineering. He still holds a number of long distance mountain running records which he set almost 30 years ago. Adrian grew up in Sheffield and supports Sheffield Wednesday FC, and now lives in Bolsover, Derbyshire. He has a wife, Helen, five children ranging in age from 13 to 22, and two young cocker spaniels.

Current Chairman Gillian Easson is retiring after 10 years with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. She announced her retirement last October and will formally hand over to Adrian Belton at the end of May 2017.

Gillian said; “It has been a tremendous honour to have been the Chairman. Over the years, I have worked with so many caring and dedicated people and have been humbled to see them all go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure excellent care to patients.

“I will always hold this great organisation very dear to my heart, both personally and professionally, and Adrian is an excellent appointment to chair the Trust over the next phase of its development.  I wish him the very best for the future.”