THE chairman of Durham and Darlington Health Authority has taken up a new post.

Dr John Marshall left the authority on June 30 to become regional appointments commissioner in the new NHS Appointments Commission.

The commission has collective responsibility for the appointment of the chairmen and non-executive members to the boards of health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts.

Dr Marshall was chairman of the health authority since it was formed in 1996.

He was chairman of South Durham Health Authority from 1994-96 and was a member of Darlington Health Authority before that.