The appointment follows a decision by the trusts earlier this year to establish a group model that will deliver better outcomes for the population we serve.

Cara, who will be in post from 1 November, has worked in the Bath and north east Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire system for eight years, having been chief executive at Salisbury and the RUH.

She said: 'As three trusts we now have the opportunity to learn together, to tackle inequalities in access to services, to work together to remove barriers to good health and provide improved health outcomes for all our communities.'

Sue Harriman, chief executive of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, added: 'True collaboration adds real value to patient care and all three hospital trusts have a unique role to play in strengthening the support that local people and communities count on at every stage of their lives.

'Under Cara's expert leadership, our hospitals will be stronger together and I look forward to seeing the benefits of these new arrangements over the coming years.'