TORBAY Care Trust's acting chief executive Anthony Farnsworth has been appointed to the top job on the health body with a salary of around £130,000.

The appointment followed a rigorous two-day interview process.

He has been the organisation's acting chief executive since February last year, when Peter Colclough took up a role with the Royal Cornwall Hospital's NHS Trust.

Prior to that, Mr Farnsworth (left) held the post of director of commissioning for the trust.

Mr Farnsworth joined Torbay Care Trust in 2006 following his role as director of delivery at the former South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority.

Trust chairman Julie Dent said: "I know I speak on behalf of the whole organisation when I say how delighted I am with Anthony's appointment.

"I am now very much looking forward to working with Anthony and care trust staff to continue developing innovative health and social care services for our communities."

Mr Farnsworth takes on the job with immediate effect and because, under its agreement with Torbay Council, the care trust is also responsible for adult social care services in the Bay, he will also assume the post of director of adult social care.

He said: "There are exciting and challenging times ahead for the care trust and the NHS as a whole, and I remain steadfastly committed to enabling staff and partners to deliver the very best care and support for local people."

He started his career as a social worker in Devon in 1983.

In 1995, following a variety of social care management roles in the county, he became head of commissioning for mental health and learning disability, and later took the role of director of primary and community care: both appointments with North and East Devon Health Authority.

In 2002, he was appointed director of strategic partnerships for the south west health authority and in 2004 became director of delivery.