New Finance Director for West Suffolk Hospital

11^th July 2003

West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust in Bury St Edmunds has appointed a new Finance Director.

Linda Potter joined the Trust on 1^st July. Her previous role was Finance Director for Suffolk Coastal Primary Care Trust. She has considerable experience of  NHS finance, having spent 16 years working in the field.

“I am pleased to be joining West Suffolk Hospital at an exciting time for the Trust,” said Linda.  “There are several major improvements planned for the near future, such as the new Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, which will see the services provided by the Trust developed to reflect 21^st Century advances in healthcare.

“My role is to ensure that the Trust achieves financial balance and manages its resources as effectively as possible. I will be focussing on working with colleagues across the whole health and social care arena to spend the money we have on whatever is in the best interests of patients. By working in partnership with Suffolk West Primary Care Trust and other organisations, we can achieve the ambitious targets laid out in the NHS Plan.

"I have previously helped to deliver a new hospital in Bishops Stortford under the Private Finance Initiative. This experience will be useful as we progress the Sudbury development."

Linda is married with a stepson and two cats.  She is seeking to relocate to the Bury St Edmunds area from her present home in east Suffolk.