An NHS trust which provides services across Ellesmere Port and Neston has appointed a new chairman.

The Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), which provides mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services to patients in Cheshire and Wirral as well as community services in Cheshire West, has selected its deputy chairman Mike Maier to follow chairman David Eva.

Mr Eva is to become chairman at the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

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Mr Maier, a non-executive director at the trust for five years, will take over from June.

He has spent the majority of his career holding senior finance positions in the private sector within manufacturing and distribution industries.

The trust says the ‘rigorous selection process’ included a number of stages with the involvement of people who use CWP services or care for someone who does alongside members of the board and health professionals.

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Anna Usherwood, lead governor at the trust, said: “Mike is well-placed to lead CWP with his strong values and a commitment to championing person-centred care.

“He brings a wealth of experience to the board with solid experience and knowledge of governance and finance and will play a pivotal role in shaping care for local people.”

She added: “I would like to thank our current chair, David Eva, for his contribution to improving the lives of people in Wirral and Cheshire during his 15 years with the trust.

“We wish him well in his future role.”

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Mr Maier will lead the board of directors which includes chief executive Sheena Cumiskey, named national chief executive officer of the year by the Health Service Journal and Avril Devaney, director of nursing, who has recently been awarded an MBE for services to nursing people with mental health problems.

The trust is rated ’good’ by the Care Quality Commission with ‘outstanding’ features.

It provides services in partnership with users and other organisations and is a major local employer with 3,400 staff.