Professor Matthew Makin appointed as new Medical Director

Professor Matthew Makin appointed as new Medical Director

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Rochdale Infirmary, The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester and Fairfield General Hospitals and a range of community services, has appointed a new Medical Director.

Professor Matthew Makin, who was born and brought up in Manchester, will take up post at the Trust in early 2016. He is currently Medical Director in Wales at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Professor Makin’s clinical background is in General Medicine, Palliative Medicine and General Practice, and his academic interests have been research into the cause and treatment of Cancer Pain, and Clinical Ethics in Medicine.

In 2000 he was appointed as a Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, working across community and hospital settings and in recent years has been the Chief of Staff for the Cancer Clinical Programme Group, the founding Chair of the North Wales Neuroscience Network and Programme Lead for Pain Research at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Institute in Liverpool.

From 2001-2009 Professor Makin was Medical Director of Nightingale House Hospice. He is Honorary Professor of Health and Behavioural Sciences at Bangor University. His research has led to internationally recognised Morley-Makin approach for Cancer Pain Management and he leads the National Registry for Invasive Neurodestructive Procedures in Cancer Pain (INPIC).

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Makin said: "Although I'm sad to leave friends and colleagues in Wales, I am very excited at coming back to Manchester where I was born and brought up, and I look forward to meeting my new colleagues and joining the team at Pennine which has a national reputation for being a dynamic and forward thinking Trust.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the Trust’s medical staff and help progress the Trust’s vision and strategic clinical service transformation plans, whilst improving outcomes for patients as well as forging closer links with our health and social care partners across Greater Manchester as well as other bodies such as Manchester University. "

Dr Gillian Fairfield, Chief Executive of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust I am delighted that we have appointed Professor Matthew Makin as our new Executive Medical Director.

"I know the Trust will be pleased to welcome Matthew in joining as a senior member of the management team and the Board of Directors when he starts with us next year. He has a strong clinical background, coupled with a wealth of knowledge and experience around strategic and clinical transformational change. I am confident he will make a positive impact to our medical and clinical teams, working with our consultants, doctors and nursing teams across our services to help drive up and sustain high standards of care and best outcomes for our patients.”

The appointment is subject to the normal processes undertaken by the Trust and Trust Development Authority (TDA) for all new Executive Directors.

Professor Makin has been appointed to the permanent position of Executive Medical Director at the Trust and will take over from Dr Anton Sinniah who has been in post as Acting Medical Director since 1st February 2015.