1 June 2026 New Deputy Medical Director appointed at Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has welcomed Dr Dave Kirby as its new Deputy Medical Director.

After qualifying as a doctor 20 years ago, Dave has worked in primary care for 15 years, the majority of which have been in medical leadership roles. Most recently he has worked in YAS’s Emergency Operation Centre for the last two years, helping to review 999 calls, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate response, as well as providing clinical support to ambulance colleagues.

Dave said: “I’m delighted to be taking up the role of Deputy Medical Director. Having already worked alongside colleagues handling 999 calls, I have seen first-hand the vital difference the ambulance service makes to patients and their families, especially in times of crisis.

“My experience has given me a strong understanding of community and primary care, which will be invaluable in helping the ambulance service continue to develop services for patients and communities. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues across the organisation to further improve patient care and support strong clinical decision-making.”

Dave started his Deputy Medical Director role on 1 June 2026 after working for the Leeds GP Confederation, where he spent six years leading on service quality and clinical governance for primary care services within the city. Other previous roles have included Deputy Medical Director for Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust covering all services with a particular focus on children's services, including mental health and community paediatrics, and GP Specialist Advisor for the Care Quality Commission.

Shona McCallum, Executive Medical Director at YAS, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dave to the Trust. His knowledge and experience of primary and community care across Yorkshire will be essential to developing our services and strengthening the care we provide to patients across the region.”