MERGING health trusts have announced a new management board.

NHS South East Essex and NHS South West Essex, which have formed NHS South Essex Cluster to save cash, have appointed seven new non-executive directors to their joint board.

Robert Peters, Tony Le Masurier, Melvin Porter, Roger Sinden, Anthony Cox, Glynnis Cheers and Gillian Hind will all take up positions until March 31, 2013.

Katherine Kirk, chairman of the management board, said: “I am delighted with the appointments to our new joint board.

“The diversity and wealth of experience they bring will ensure we are in a strong position to lead and support the future commissioning agenda and the development of GP consortia.”