PAUL Irving has been appointed director of primary and community services with Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Mr Irving, previously chief executive of the Sedgefield Primary Care Group, has worked in the area since 1990.

He was locality director for Sedgefield and GP fundholding manager for the former Northern and Yorkshire Regional Health Authority.

In his new role, Mr Irving will lead the integration of primary care and community services, bringing together services recently transferred to the PCT and helping make services more responsive to local needs.

Nigel Porter, chief executive of Sedgefield PCT, said: "Paul's post is very significant, not only for its importance in managing support to primary care, the allied health professions and managing nurse services, but also because it is a genuine joint appointment."

Mr Irving said: "I am looking forward to this new challenge and working with all the new PCT staff. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work across three agencies which provide all the services that aim to improve the well-being of the residents of the Sedgefield area.

"Working with the borough council and social services will be a wonderful opportunity for us to develop services we can be proud of for the Sedgefield community."