Leader of inadequate CCG to leave this month

David Slack, who has been managing director of Somerset CCG since its inception in 2013, will leave his position at the end of August.

HSJ understands he handed in his notice to the CCG’s governing body several months ago.

The CCG was rated inadequate by NHS England last month and is in special measures.

A new chief officer has yet to be appointed, though interviews have taken place and an announcement will be made once NHS England has approved Mr Slack’s successor.

Mr Slack was previously director of primary care development for NHS Somerset, and he was director of finance and performance management at Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust between 2001 and 2006.

Recently, the CCG announced plans to create a single commissioning body with Somerset county council as part of the area’s drive to become an accountable care system by 2019.

This financial year, the CCG has been set a control total deficit of £1.7m, which would bring its cumulative deficit to £4.7m while its underlying deficit would be £7.1m.

But according to its interim plan, the CCG is forecasting a £17.2m deficit and – as it has agreed a risk sharing agreement with its providers – the area is part of the capped expenditure process.

A review by consultants Attain, between March and May, found the CCG’s senior leadership was spending too much time in meetings and  stakeholders viewed the leadership’s decision making ability as weak.