A health organisation serving Norfolk and Suffolk has appointed a new chairman.

East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) has announced Dr Andy Wood in the role.

Dr Wood brings with him a wealth of experience, having been the chief executive of Adnams Brewery since 2010.

He also currently holds positions as chairman of Norse Group, independent director at the University of East Anglia, and deputy lieutenant of Norfolk.

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ECCH offers a range of NHS community services throughout Norfolk and Suffolk.

These include a variety of therapies as well as cardiac rehabilitation.

It focuses on providing in-home care through multi-disciplinary teams of nurses and therapists, helping to reduce unnecessary hospital trips.

ECCH, a community interest company, prioritises patient benefit over profit, reinvesting surplus resources into its services and supporting local causes.

Chief executive, Ian Hutchison, said: “Andy will bring a great deal of experience to help us grow our organisation.

"He also has a proven track record for supporting local communities through business, and for championing sustainability and innovation which, as a social enterprise, are key focuses for ECCH.”

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Speaking on his new role, Dr Wood said: “I was attracted to ECCH because it does much-needed work in communities across Norfolk and Waveney.

"Further, ECCH is an organisation owned entirely by its employees and as such can be an innovative, creative and enterprising partner within the wider Norfolk and Suffolk healthcare system.”

Dr. Wood's appointment follows the end of Tony Osmanski's term, who served as chairman for six years.

ECCH, with headquarters in Lowestoft, uses any surplus resources to enhance the quality of life in the Norfolk and Waveney communities, offering services such as district nursing, community in-patient services, specialist nursing care and health improvement services.