A NEW director has been appointed to two health bodies to oversee their financial management.

John Anderson is to be director of finance and commissioning for Derwentside Primary Care Trust and Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust.

He will be responsible for providing financial advice to the trust chief executives, boards and executive committees, to ensure the sound financial management and stewardship of funds.

He will also lead on the negotiation and agreement of all services commissioned by the trusts on behalf of the public in Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street.

Mr Anderson was formerly deputy director of finance for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority and has held senior NHS finance posts in the Durham area for more than 17 years.

He said: "I am looking forward to working with the members of staff to maximise the use of resources for the benefit of the population across both areas."