A LEADING clinician has joined the NHS Foundation Trust board following a 40-year career as a doctor, educator and innovator

Sir Alan Craft, a consultant specialising in paediatric oncology and the former head of child health at Newcastle University medical school, joined the board of the trust’s Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in a non-executive director role.

Sir Alan, a Northumberland resident and author of over 350 papers, review articles and books, began his medical career in 1969 before specialising in paediatric medicine and then in paediatric oncology.

He held the presidency of the Royal College of Paediatrics between 2003 and 2006, and that of the International Paediatric Oncology Society for more than six years between 1999 and 2005.

Sir Alan said: “After 40 years working in the NHS, I am now looking forward to taking up a new and different role as a non-executive director.

“I feel that the wide experience that I have will be able to support Northumbria Healthcare’s ambition to continuously strive for excellence, which ultimately benefits the local communities served, patients and staff.”