A SENIOR figure in East Lothian’s health and social care services is moving to a new role after seven years working in the county.

David Small, director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, leaves at the end of June to take up a new appointment as director of Primary Care Transformation with NHS Lothian.

Mr Small began work in East Lothian in 2011 and undertook the setting up of East Lothian Health and Social Care Integration Shadow Board, which became the East Lothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) in July 2015.

He has also been instrumental in the delivering of the East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington and has been involved in promoting faster access to primary care services with new systems introduced in Musselburg.

His new role will see Mr Small working with GPs, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals to increase multi-disciplinary working as part of implementing the new GP contract and achieving better and quicker access to primary care for patients.

He said: “I will miss East Lothian very much. Integrating health and social care is a big thing to take on board but I think our staff have responded incredibly well and made real changes to the way they work together and I appreciate their support.

‘Whoever takes up this post is taking on a very interesting and rewarding job. I wish them and the partnership well.”