Appointments Commission announces proposed Strategic Health Authority Cluster Chair appointment for NHS Midlands and East
The Appointments Commission has announced today that it has agreed in principle to the appointment of the chair of the soon to be created NHS Midlands and East.
Sarah Boulton, the current Interim Chair of NHS East of England, in principle is set to become the chair of NHS Midlands and East, the new strategic health authority (SHA) cluster comprising of NHS West Midlands, NHS East of England and NHS East Midlands which will be established from October this year.
In addition the Appointments Commission has announced two other cluster chair appointments for NHS North of England and NHS South of England, which are needed to support the new SHA clustering arrangements.
At its meeting on Thursday 28 July 2011, the Commission’s Health and Social Care Appointments Committee agreed in principle to the following appointments:
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NHS Midlands and East: Sarah Boulton
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NHS North of England (comprising of North West, North East and Yorkshire and The Humber): Kathryn Riddle
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NHS South of England (South West, South Central and South East Coast): Dr Geoff Harris
It is intended that these appointments will formally begin on 3 October 2011 when it is anticipated that the clustering arrangement will come into effect. Until then, all of the current SHA Chairs will remain in post.
The Appointments Commission has also confirmed Professor Mike Spyer’s appointment as the substantive Chair for NHS London which forms the fourth cluster.
Sarah Boulton, currently Interim Chair of NHS East of England, said:
“I am delighted to have been appointed chair of the new SHA cluster, covering the west Midlands, east Midlands and east of England. It is a very exciting time in the history of the NHS and by pooling our knowledge, expertise and resources across three regions we can share learning, build on our successes and ensure the smooth transition from SHAs to the establishment of the new Commissioning Board.
“My number one priority in taking forward the new SHA cluster will be to ensure we continue to deliver high quality safe services for our patients and the public.In the east of England we have long had the ambition to be the safest health service in England, and I plan to take this ambition forward across the whole of the new cluster. We have proved in the past that when the NHS works together and focuses on a safety issue we can make a difference, and patient safety and high quality care and services will be at the very heart the new cluster’s work.
“I will now work with colleagues across the three regions, including the current chairs, Elisabeth Buggins (west Midlands) and Kaye Burnett (east Midlands), to create a strong leadership team, starting with the appointment of a new cluster Chief Executive in the coming weeks. I am proud to have been appointed to this post and I will give it one hundred per cent.”
Anne Watts CBE, Chair of the Appointments Commission, said:
“This is an important first step in establishing the new cluster arrangements. I would like to thank all of the SHA chairs for the understanding and cooperation they demonstrated throughout this process.”
Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS, added:
“Clustering SHAs will ensure we have sufficient capacity in the system to maintain grip and momentum throughout the transition period. Moving to four clusters will ensure the best fit between our transition arrangements and the future arrangements for the NHS Commissioning Board, which will be organised across the same geographical areas. I am pleased that these appointments have now been agreed so that we can start to move forward establishing the clusters as quickly as possible.”
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