ONE of north Cumbria's most senior health leaders has been awarded an Honorary Professorship by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Stephen Eames, chief executive of North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust and the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has been recognised for his health leadership and the support he has given to UCLan’s Cumbria-based Medical School.

It praises Prof Eames for his support in setting up the National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine, based at Whitehaven.

He said: “I am delighted to have been awarded an Honorary Professorship from UCLan.

"Our partnership working has proved to be vital in growing our workforce for the future in north Cumbria, particularly in west Cumbria. This has included the training and development of physician associates and we have recently welcomed the first cohort of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery students who have started their placements in west Cumbria.

“UCLan shares our ambition of making this region the place to study, work and live and I now look forward to further strengthening our relationship as we progress plans to incorporate education and training facilities into the further redevelopment of West Cumberland Hospital.”

Professor Cathy Jackson, UCLan Executive Dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, said: “This is a very well-deserved accolade for Professor Eames. Not only has he dedicated more than 40 years of his working life to the NHS, he has been a constant supporter of ours with the development and implementation of our Medical School in Cumbria.

“We are delighted he has offered to provide his vital input into the development and delivery of our leadership programmes as his knowledge will be invaluable to help the next generation.”

Prof Eames took up the lead role at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust in January 2016.

He is also now chief executive of the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, as well as the lead for the North Cumbria Integrated Health & Care System.