A FORMER councillor was appointed as director of Chase Farm Hospital.

Fiona Bulmer, who lost the Conservative leadership battle for Barnet Council in December, has been appointed to the board of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals Trust.

The freelance communications consultant held roles in the council's cabinet including children's and adult social services.

She said: “I very much hope that my knowledge of social care and local government will be an asset to the Board and I am looking forward to joining them.”

Trust Board Chairman Baroness Wall said: “Fiona’s expertise and experience from local government, especially in services for children and vulnerable adults will be a great asset as we need to work closely with partners in primary and social care to provide a seamless service.”

She has been appointed to the £6,000-a-year role alongside Tony Chanmgam, a BT finance director, who has a background in sales, marketing, strategic planning and is a qualified accountant and said he was “totally committed” to the hospitals as a local resident.

Baroness Wall added: “Tony’s financial expertise will be incredibly useful as we enter a period of public sector financial restraint while continuing to meet ambitious service targets and deliver the first phase of the Barnet Enfield and Haringey clinical strategy.”

She also payed tribute to the outgoing board members Karen Trew, who is now a chairman of NHS Enfield and Sherry Malik, who took up a senior post at the General Social Care Council.