Hywel Dda University Health Board has announced its new Chief Executive. Karen Howell will take up the post of Chief Executive (Interim) from this week.

Karen has over 30 years experience in the NHS and worked within Hywel Dda for three years as Deputy CEO, whilst holding additional portfolios for primary, community and mental health services. She is, by background, a clinician and has worked across acute, community and mental health services in both England and Wales and also at a national level.

Said Karen: “I am very much looking forward to taking up this role. I am committed to leading and steering the University Health Board through the current, and often challenging, times of change.

“The values and principles that originally steered me towards working within the NHS still continue to drive and motivate me and because of that motivation I will continue to bring a focus on the planning and delivery of quality, safety and sustainable services to our population across our three counties.

“I am committed to achieving our vision to plan and provide better and more responsive high quality healthcare services to our local population with improving outcomes.”