NHS GREAT Yarmouth and Waveney has appointed Alison Taylor as its new director of finance.Ms Taylor has been appointed to the post permanently after fulfilling the role in an interim capacity since November.

NHS GREAT Yarmouth and Waveney has appointed Alison Taylor as its new director of finance.

Ms Taylor has been appointed to the post permanently after fulfilling the role in an interim capacity since November.

She started her career as a finance trainee with the old East Anglian Regional Health Authority. As well as spending time in the private sector, Ms Taylor has worked as finance director for Central Suffolk PCT, East Suffolk PCT and Suffolk West PCT.

She also has a detailed knowledge of buying services on behalf of patients, having joined NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney as deputy director of commissioning in 2006.

Under Ms Taylor's direction over the past ten months, the PCT has moved from a “weak” to “fair” rating for the quality of its financial management in the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) annual health check.

NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney also received a much improved use of resources assessment from the Audit Commission last month.

“I am delighted to have been appointed permanently to this role,” said Ms Taylor, who has a masters degree in advanced commissioning and is currently studying for an MBA with the University of East Anglia.

“During the past year, we have worked extremely hard to ensure we have solid financial management systems in place and make sound investments on behalf of our patients. We have also made great progress in terms of the governance of our work, which has been reflected in our improved performance scores in both the Care Quality Commission's annual health check and the Audit Commission's use of resources assessment.

“As with all other NHS organisations, we are facing huge challenges over the coming years as we look to deliver the savings outlined by the government while continuing to buy in high quality services which deliver excellent value for money.

“This will see us look carefully at our budgets so that we can find ways of delivering greater productivity without compromising the care which our patients receive.

“We are already working towards this goal and feel we are well positioned to meet these future challenges on behalf of the people of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.”

David Edwards OBE, chairman of NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Alison to this post on a permanent basis.

“Our finance team has made enormous progress under her direction, culminating in much improved assessments from both the CQC and Audit Commission. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Alison so that we can build on this success still further in the future.”