THE chief executive of NHS West Essex has bowed out after 15 years of service.

Aidan Thomas leaves the top position at the PCT this week to move to the Norfolk & Waveney Mental Health Foundation Trust.

Mr Thomas's relationship with the PCT goes back to when it was originally Essex and Herts Community Services and he went on to become CEO as it became Epping Forest PCT and then West Essex PCT.

He said: "These years have included some of the happiest and most rewarding of my career and, despite the organisational changes, the fact is that many community nurses and therapists, staff at St Margaret's, and at Saffron Walden Hospital and GPs have remained colleagues throughout.

“There have been huge changes to local services - in some cases they have been transformed - staffing levels in most of our community services are now much higher than they were then, there were no community support team (intermediate care) then, and far less therapy support. Many more services are now provided in community settings and GP practices.”

NHS West Essex’s new chief executive is Catherine O'Connell, who was previously its director of strategy and a locality director.