Yorkshire 'inadequate' CCG appoints new chief officer

Vale of York CCG has appointed Phil Mettam to take up the position from 3 October. Mr Mettam is currently chief officer at Nottinghamshire-based Bassetlaw CCG, which was one of 10 organisations rated as “outstanding” by NHS England last week.

Dr Hayes’s resignation as accountable officer was announced last week, although Helen Hirst had been acting chief officer in a part time capacity since the spring.

The York CCG was rated inadequate and put into financial special measures as part of the national “reset” by NHS Improvement and NHS England last week.

Mr Mettam said: “I am looking forward to joining the team in the Vale of York.

“Throughout September, in the run up to my first day as the CCG’s accountable officer, I hope to meet the staff and local stakeholders to understand their perspective on health services in the Vale of York.”

Vale of York is one of nine CCGs put in financial special measures, including East Surrey, Walsall and Coventry and Rugby.

In the Strengthening Financial Performance and Accountability in 2016-17 document, published last week, NHS England said it would be reorganising East Surrey CCG into “part of a wider organisational review to bring it together into a single commissioning leadership structure across its area”.

East Surrey accountable officer Elaine Jackson announced in May she was standing down at the end of month and will be replaced by interim accountable officer Antony Collins in August.

In a statement she said her decision was based on the need for a “more joined-up approach” to locally commissioning to “simplify relationships, cut costs and free up clinical time”.

She added: “It has been clear to me and to East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group’s governing body for some time that a more joined-up approach to commissioning is needed locally.

“This will simplify relationships, cut costs, and free up clinical time to focus on patients – essential when there is increasing pressure in the system. It is also absolutely in line with the national direction of travel. Over the past 12 months, I have become increasingly aware of the urgency of this.”

Ms Jackson said her CCG would work with neighbouring organisations and NHS England to develop a single commissioning structure for the area.

Meanwhile, Walsall CCG’s chief officer Salma Ali has left in relation to financial concerns, and Paul Maubach, chief officer at Dudley CCG, which was also rated “outstanding”, has taken on the role in addition.

Andrea Green, chief officer at Warwickshire North CCG, which was rated ”requires improvement”, will take over at the helm of Coventry and Rugby CCG.