A MOTHER-of-three with a background in business management and teaching will take over as chairman of Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Trust later this year.

Joanna Newton will take over the post at the end of August from Paul Leopold, who has been chairman since November 1999.

Mrs Newton, aged 37, lives in Weobley, Herefordshire, and is currently non-executive director of Herefordshire Primary Care Trust.

Her business background is in marketing, customer service and operations management in the pharmaceutical industry.

She said she was relishing the opportunity to take forward the good work already achieved by the trust.

"I have been involved in the local health community since the beginning of Primary Care Trusts, and I know how good working relationships with the ambulance trust have resulted in successful partnerships," she said.

"The ambulance trust has overachieved on the national performance targets for 2002-3, which is excellent news, and I will be congratulating the staff when I go to meet them at the ambulance stations in the near future."

The trust hit its key targets for the past financial year, but the management is having to fight to win over frontline staff in the region.

Members of the Association of Ambulance Personnel gave trust chiefs a vote of no confidence in December last year, accusing them of failing to talk to them.

"I am keen to achieve the aims of the NHS Plan, and will work closely with my future colleagues on the strategic direction of the organisation," said Mrs Newton.