A DEDICATED NHS board member from Kidderminster is finally retiring after a 50-year career in public service.

David Priestnall, aged 71, has announced he is stepping down from Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, where he has been a non-executive director since 2011.

But he held a number of senior positions on public bodies in his career, which has spanned six decades, including chairman and deputy chairman of Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust and the Primary Care Trust respectively.

Prior to his 14 year NHS career, he was Assistant Director of Housing at Birmingham City Council.

Earlier this year, Mr Priestnall was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen at a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

He was awarded a fellowship, through the trust, to travel to the USA in 1981 to study Housing for Older People Provided by the Private Sector to bring ideas back to the UK.

Mr Priestnall said: “I have spent 14 years working with NHS organisations in the County in numerous roles and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do so.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a board member of Worcestershire Health and Care Trust.

“Since I started, the Trust has undergone some major changes but throughout these changes the people who work there have remained true to their roots and remained passionate about providing the highest quality of care to people.

“I feel that the Trust has grown and prospered and because of its work community care is now at the forefront of the NHS locally. Financially the Trust is very well managed which has led to a surplus this year. I am very proud to have been part of that.

“My fellow board members are the most professional group of people I have ever worked with and I am sure many of the friendships I’ve made will continue.

“Now I’m retiring I intend to spend more time on the two charities I chair in Churchill and Blakedown and I am also looking forward to playing more golf and spending time with my growing family, which now includes five grandchildren- I think that’s plenty to keep me on my toes.”

Chris Burdon, Chairman of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “It has been an honour to work with David over the last four years.

“He has dedicated so much of his time to help improve the health services available to those in the County. I know I speak for the whole board when I say that he will be missed and that we wish him all the best in his retirement.”