Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (Somerset FT) has appointed Dr Melanie Iles as its new Chief Medical Officer and looks forward to welcoming her when she starts her new role on 1 April 2024.

Dr Iles is currently NHS England's national chief clinical information officer (CCIO) on an interim basis on secondment from her substantive role as NHS England's medical director and CCIO for the East of England region.

Peter Lewis, chief executive of Somerset FT, said: "I am very excited to welcome Melanie to Somerset in spring next year. She is a paediatrician by background and has worked as a medical director both at local level within a trust and at a regional level in a number of different parts of the country.

"Our trust is unique in England and provides acute, community, mental health and learning disability services, and primary care services via our subsidiary. We aim to support people to stay well, provide the best care and support, strengthen care and support in local communities, and reduce health inequalities. I am confident that Melanie will support us to achieve this while at the same time supporting our colleagues within the trust to develop and continue to innovate."

Dr Melanie Iles said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as Chief Medical Officer for Somerset NHS FT. It will be a privilege to join the trust and work with the amazing staff to deliver the trusts vision to improve the health and care outcomes for the people of Somerset and the benefits of the trust merger. I have big shoes to fill taking on this role from Dr Dan Meron who has done a fantastic job. I am looking forward to starting in April and getting to know the people and the services they deliver. I have been fortunate to have a varied career and experience which I intend to put to good use for the benefit of the organisation".

Dr Melanie Iles, MBBS , FRCPCH - biography

Dr Melanie Iles is currently the National Chief Clinical Information Officer for NHS England, a post which she has taken on an interim basis to support the formation of the new Digital Clinical Informatic team through the merger of NHS England, NHS Digital and Health Education England. In her previous position as interim Regional Medical Director in the East of England she was the Chief Clinical Information Officer.

Melanie is an experienced leader, having worked as a medical director in different settings for over eight years, in an acute trust, for NHS Improvement and for NHS England at regional level. Prior to this, she held a variety of regional and national roles as a senior clinical leader focussed on children and young people. She is a paediatrician with over 31 years' service in the NHS.