Douglas-Todd was appointed by NHS England and will replace Melloney Poole, who has been chair of IWT since 2020 and PHU since 2017.

She will take up the new role in addition to and alongside her existing position as chair of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, which is independent of her new position at IWT and PHU.

Douglas-Todd is currently also chair of NHS Dorset ICB, where she has been since 2020, and will step down at the end of the financial year to take on her new role at IWT and PHU.

She has significant experience across senior roles, including as chief executive for the Hampshire Police and crime commissioner and Hampshire Police Authority and director of equality and inclusion at NHS England.

Douglas-Todd said: ‘This is an important time for both organisations as we look to continue the improvement of local services and strengthen our acute partnership on both sides of the Solent.

‘A joint clinical model is being implemented across the trusts to support and create resilient services and this has been boosted with significant investments in their estate. The opening of a new Emergency Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital and the new Community Diagnostic Hub at St Mary's are just two examples from the last month of how services are being modernised for patients on the mainland and the island, providing care for when people urgently need it and identifying illness at the earliest stage.

‘Together with thousands of the hard-working staff working across both trusts, we have a great opportunity to continue our journey of improvement and also address the challenges for the NHS locally.'

Douglas-Todd will take up the role from April 2025 and will lead the statutory boards of the two organisations.