A NEW role created to bridge the gap between the health and care sectors in St Helens has been filled.

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has announced the appointment of Wayne Longshaw as the director of integration.

The new post has been created as part of St Helens Council’s new social care system, St Helens Cares, which is due to launch in its first iteration this month.

This joint role closely linking the trust, St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the council.

Mr Longshaw, who has more than 30 years’ experience in both local government and the NHS, will oversee the management of the workstreams of St Helens Cares.

He will work between organisations to ensure the people of St Helens receive seamless, joined up care – from early prevention through to urgent and crisis care.

Mr Longshaw said: “I’m delighted to be joining the St Helens Cares team.

“I have a background in local government and more recently in the NHS and I look forward to working with local professionals and communities, as well as becoming a resident of the borough myself.”

Prof Sarah O’Brien, strategic director people’s services and clinical accountable officer for St Helens CCH, said: “I’m very pleased to have Wayne working for us in this unique joint role closely linking the CCG, local authority and St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust.

“As we move to becoming a system that works together, rather than individual organisations, delivering health and social care to our local population, it is vital that we have someone skilled in managing the complexities of this who will bring together staff and systems to ensure people receive seamless, joined up care – from early prevention through to urgent and crisis care.”