Ex-trust chief to lead ICS on interim basis

Tracy Dowling, the former Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust chief executive, will be joining the organisation later this month.

She will take over from Anthony “Mac” McKeever, who announced his retirement earlier this year after nearly five decades in the health service. 

Mid and South Essex ICS will continue its search for a substantive replacement, it said.

The system contains the largest trust in the East of England, Mid and South Essex FT, as well as community and mental health provider Essex Partnership University Trust. 

Ms Dowling was at the helm of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough FT for four years before retiring in 2021. 

Before this, she was chief executive of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group and lead for its sustainability and transformation partnership. She has also been the director of operations and delivery for NHS England in East Anglia.

Ms Dowling said she was “delighted” to be taking on the role at Mid and South Essex ICS as her appointment was announced. 

Michael Thorne, the Mid and South Essex integrated care board chair, said Ms Dowling will bring “considerable expertise” to the role and thanked Mr McKeever for his “excellent” leadership.