The Hertfordshire and West Essex sustainability and transformation plan has a new lead after the incumbent stepped down due to concerns over the time needed to carry out the role.

Tom Cahill, the chief executive of Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, has taken over the position after Beverley Flowers resigned in August.

A spokeswoman for the STP said Ms Flowers, accountable officer for East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, found the time involved was “substantially more than she felt she could give” if she was to do “justice” to her CCG role.

Mr Cahill formally took over leadership last month, on a two days a week basis. He is supported by a programme board made up of the chief executives from all providers and commissioners in the STP area. Ms Flowers remains on this board and is also leading the communication and engagement work stream.

The spokeswoman confirmed the “final” STP, submitted on 21 October, is due to be published “before Christmas”.

However, a Hertfordshire council update about the STP in September said the shift to treating people in the community will result in hospitals having to “reduce their capacity accordingly”. According to the Hertfordshire health and wellbeing board, the STP will integrate primary, community, mental health and social care at a local level. It also said a “partnership” between East and North Hertfordshire Trust and Princess Alexandra Trust will enable service consolidation and allow services to become “sustainable”. Meanwhile, West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust is “exploring” partnering with the Royal Free group of hospitals.

The STP consists of East and North Hertfordshire Trust, Hertfordshire Community Trust, Hertfordshire Partnership FT, West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust, The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust, three CCGs and two local authorities.

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