Monitor has appointed an experienced former NHS chief executive to help Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) improve its services for patients.

The health regulator has assigned Alan Yates, who has more than 27 years’ NHS experience, as improvement director at the trust.

It comes after Monitor put the trust into special measures last week as a result of concerns about the safety of services, staffing levels and leadership.

Alexandra Coull, deputy regional director at Monitor, said the extra support would help Norfolk and Suffolk make the improvements to its services that patients needed.

She added: “Alan has extensive experience of leading NHS organisations and therefore will be able to provide invaluable help and expertise.”

She said they would continue to monitor the trust’s progress in making improvements and would take further action if necessary.

Mr Yates, who has spent over half of his NHS career working with mental health trusts, is employed by Monitor, but is based at the trust in a part-time capacity.

He will work alongside the trust’s leadership, providing expertise and support while also holding it to account to ensure the necessary improvements are being made.

Michael Scott, pictured, chief executive at NSFT, said: “Having met Alan, I am delighted for him to begin working with us.

“Alan’s expertise and support will be invaluable in helping us make improvements we want to make.”

NSFT was the first mental health trust in the country to be put into special measures.

The move came after the Care Quality Commission gave the trust an overall rating of inadequate earlier this month after identifying a number of serious problems.