DARLINGTON Primary Care Trust and new health body, County Durham Primary Care Trust (PCT), have announced the names of seven of their top managers.

Dr Hilton Dixon, Carole Harder, Amanda Hume, Brian Key, Pat Keane, Cameron Ward and Rosemary Granger are to join chief executives Yasmin Chaudhry and Colin Morris, and recently appointed director of finance Pat Taylor on the executive teams of the two PCTs.

Dr Dixon has been appointed as medical director of both PCTs. He has been medical director at Darlington PCT since August 2005.

Ms Harder, the new director of service provision for Darlington PCT, has been director of primary care/deputy chief executive at the PCT since 2002. She will also lead the development of integrated health and social care arrangements across County Durham and Darlington.

Ms Hume is director of workforce and corporate development for Darlington PCT. She is also managing some services on behalf of County Durham PCT.

Mr Key is director of strategic procurement and prison healthcare services for Darlington PCT. He was the director of performance modernisation for Durham and Chester-le-Street PCT and previously a senior manager with County Durham Social Services.

Pat Keane, is the director of business development for County Durham PCT.

Mr Ward has been appointed as the director of commissioning and market development for County Durham PCT.

Ms Granger has been appointed to the post of North-East director of commissioning for mental health and disabilities.