South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), which provides pre-hospital emergency and urgent care services to the population of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the former Avon area, is pleased to announce the reappointment of its Chairman, Heather Strawbridge, who will serve until the end of February 2017. As part of her role Heather will lead the Board of SWASFT, which has undergone significant changes in the past few months since acquiring its neighbouring Trust, the former Great Western Ambulance Service. Heather has a wealth of experience and understanding of large and complex organisations, particularly in the public sector, and is currently a Non Executive Director at Somerset Care and Chair of the Audit Committee at Bridgwater College Academy Trust. The reappointment, confirmed by the Trusts Council of Governors, means that Heather can continue to embrace the challenges of delivering high quality care to patients across the south west region. Adrian Rutter, public Governor for Devon and member of the Remuneration and Recommendation panel that reappointed Heather, said: With her high national profile and extensive knowledge of the public and private sector and the ambulance service Heather was the ideal choice to continue leading the Trust. We are pleased to confirm Heather's reappointment. Commenting on her reappointment Heather said: I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to continue leading such a strong organisation. It is rewarding to see the Trust continue to develop and grow and I know all of our staff will continue to work hard to ensure excellent patient care is delivered to those in need across the Trust patch.SWASFT Chief Executive Ken Wenman added: I am delighted to learn of Heather's reappointment and on behalf of the Trust Board I would like to congratulate her. Heather has played a very important role in the development of South Western Ambulance Service since its creation in 2006. Non-Executive Director Hugh Hood has also been reappointed to the Board for a three-year period with effect from January 1st 2014. Hugh is a qualified Human Resources practitioner who has extensive experience in the public and private sectors where he has been instrumental in delivering substantial change programmes. Currently Hugh is a BT Group Director and is part of BT Group's Human Resources leadership team. Hugh holds an MSc in Digital Systems Engineering and BSc in Physics from the University of Manchester, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Organisational Development from the University of Sussex.