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The ambulance service in south-east England has appointed a new executive director of operations as it continues to develop its leadership team.

South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) said Jennifer Allan would replace Emma Williams in the autumn following Ms Williams' decision to relocate to the North West.

It said the appointment had been made as it moved towards a "regional integrated leadership model" across its Kent, Surrey and Sussex footprint.

Ms Allan said it was a "huge privilege" to join the trust.

She described it as an "exciting time" to have "the opportunity to influence the trust’s strategic development".

Ms Allan joins from South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust where she has served as chief operating officer.

Prior to this, she was director of operations at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Secamb chief executive Simon Weldon said Ms Allan brought "a great deal of experience at a senior leadership level" and would be a "real asset" to the team.

He thanked Ms Williams for her "dedication and hard work" which he said included the "extremely significant and challenging task" of leading operations during the pandemic.

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