Professor Derek Bell MD FRCP OBE is a physician by background with 40 years’ experience in the NHS, including service design and delivery as well as research and education. His remit has included working as an external advisor to Government in England, Scotland and Ireland as well as internationally.

He has led a number of initiatives including the development of a new medical specialty (Acute Medicine), and the development of a nationally adopted clinical scoring system to assess acutely unwell patients.

Derek is currently Chair to the Board for both North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, and South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and is a past President of the Royal College of Physicians.