THE new chairman in charge of spending Wyre Forest’s £127 million health budget, has been appointed.

Dr Simon Rumley has taken over the role at Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) after Dr Simon Gates stepped down earlier this month.

Dr Rumley, a doctor for 20 years, works as a GP for Aylmer Lodge Cookley Partnership, mainly seeing patients at Cookley Medical Centre.

Until March this year he was also the GP clinical lead for dementia across Worcestershire, working with doctors and other organisations to promote dementia management.

Dr Rumley said: “I look forward to using my experience and knowledge of the local area to ensure our patients receive high-quality healthcare services.”

The CCG represents 12 district GP member practices and prescribes services for about 112,000 people.