A FORMER nurse is the new chief executive of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas).

Jayne Barnes, who started work as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary 25 years ago, will take over on June 1.

Mrs Barnes, 43, is director of nursing at the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (Wymas).

She moved there in 1998 to develop NHS Direct in West Yorkshire. She was also the driving force behind the establishment of NHS Professionals, a flexible staffing service. Prior to that, she was executive chief nurse at Calderedale Healthcare.

For the past two years, Mrs Barnes has had an advisory role on the Tenyas trust board.

She said: "Over the past two years, I have really enjoyed the work I have already carried out with colleagues at Tenyas, and I am absolutely delighted at this opportunity to lead the organisation forward."

Tenyas chairman David Taylor said: "Jayne will be joining a strong management team and will be facing many challenges."