A leading elderly care doctor has been appointed to a leadership role at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust (LCH).

Community geriatrician Dr Asan Akpan from Aintree University Hospital currently works with health professionals in South Sefton to support older people to remain at home for longer.

As a new associate medical director for LCH, Dr Akpan will now also be providing expert advice and support to the Trust as it develops more locally based care, across Sefton and Liverpool.

The appointment is part of a new approach by LCH to increase clinical leadership across the organisation as it works to expand and improve care closer to where people live.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr Asan Akpan said:

“I am delighted to take on this new role alongside my work with South Sefton’s community health services for older people.

“Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust is embarking on a period of change which is all about supporting and empowering front-line health professionals to deliver joined-up community health services, in collaboration with our local community hospitals and primary care, with decisions about those services being made closer to where people live.”

Dr Craig Gradden, LCH Medical Director, said:

“This is an excellent appointment for LCH and the patients we serve.

“The role of community NHS services in delivering more care closer to where people live in is vitally important. Asan’s experience working on the ground in South Sefton will be invaluable as we with continue to work with our GP colleagues to transform our services and ensure they become better integrated with other health and social care services.”