A NEW chief executive officer has been appointed at Primrose Hospice.

David Burrell will join on July 2, taking over from Helen Briscoe who departed at the end of last year.

He is currently working as deputy chief operating officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, having had a long career as a clinician and senior manager and director in the NHS.

Mr Burrell said: "I am very proud to be offered the opportunity to lead Primrose, a charity that has an excellent reputation in the community, and I look forward to working with the staff, trustees and many volunteers to ensure that the growing number of people who will need hospice care over next few years are able to access the high quality, compassionate care that Primrose provides."

Rod Laight, chairman of the board of trustees, added: "We believe that David's career has provided him with considerable skills and relevant experience which will make him an excellent leader for Primrose Hospice."

Primrose Hospice, which is based on St Godwald's Road in Bromsgrove, provides care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Bromsgrove and Redditch.

All of their services are free, meaning the hospice needs to raise £1.75 million each year to continue to provide support.