DARLINGTON Primary Care Trust and the 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, 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 last year.

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.

Ms Hume is director of workforce and corporate development for Darlington PCT, also managing some services on behalf of County Durham PCT such as human resources.

Mr Key, who lives in the Durham area, is director of strategic procurement and prison healthcare services for Darlington PCT. He has more than 20 years experience in social care.

Pat Keane, who lives in Billingham, is new 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 as North-East director of commissioning for mental health and disabilities.