West Country Chronicle: ICSs go for continuity candidates

Recruitment complete

With less than four months left before integrated care boards become statutory, the South West NHS has finally completed its recruitment for chair and chief executive designates.

The recruitment process has been relatively steady for the region’s integrated care systems compared to unsuccessful attempts in other ICSs such as in the Midlands and Manchester.

Interestingly, contrary to the national trend, there have been several appointments from the acute sector. In the five ICSs covered by the Chronicle, five of the ten CEO/chair designate positions have been filled by leaders from NHS acute providers.

The Chronicle also notes an equal split of five men and five women across the ICSs.

The stragglers

Starting furthest to the west, the Cornish ICS was one of the last ICS’ to appoint after only confirming Kate Shields as CEO last week.

Although Ms Shields currently leads Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group, she only left Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust last spring – where her departure followed several governance problems including a stalled merger and financial errors.

While RCHT’s issues have caused some disgruntlement locally, Ms Shields’ appointment confirms that NHSE south west chief Elizabeth O’Mahony still believes she is the right person for the job.

Ms Shields will be joined on the ICB by John Govett, who – as the current chair of the CCG – was a natural appointment.

Neighbours Devon were also late to confirm their duo, and here it is the chair appointment which looks the most interesting.

Having chaired the Health and Social Care Select Committee between 2014 and 2019, former Conservative, Change UK and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Wollaston has one of the more unusual backgrounds for an ICS chair.

Given her experience of navigating the politics of Westminster, Ms Wollaston - currently a non-executive director at Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust – is well-equipped to deal with the complex environment of the beleaguered Devon health system.

So too, should be Jane Milligan, Devon ICS’ CEO designate who spent eight years leading health services in London - where NHS and local government politics can present a particular challenge.

From Belfast to Bristol

Over in Somerset, it was more straightforward. The ICS char and CEO positions will be filled by the incumbent leaders of Yeovil Foundation Trust, which will merge with Somerset FT  – thus ensuring continued leadership jobs for Jonathan Higman (CEO) and Paul von der Heyde (chair).

The Somerset ICS will be one to watch closely, as it will be the only ICS with just one NHS secondary care provider in its footprint once Somerset and Yeovil FTs have merged.

Going north, we reach Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICS, where the most exotic appointment has been made.

Here, Shane Devlin has been appointed CEO after spending nearly 15 years in the Northern Irish healthcare system.

His roles have included leading the province’s ambulance service and – most recently – the £530m turnover Southern Health and Care Trust.

A fresh pair of eyes from outside the English NHS might be just the tonic for a system which loses experienced acute chief Robert Woolley early next year. Continuity will be provided through current University Hospitals of Bristol and Weston FT chair Jeff Farrar, who becomes ICS chair.

Finally, Gloucestershire ICS was among the first ICSs in the country to appoint both a chief executive and chair designate.

Gill Morgan, who has much public sector leadership experience behind her including chairing NHS Providers, will chair the ICS while long-serving Gloucestershire CCG chief Mary Hutton will become CEO of the ICS.

Both appointments ensure a safe pair of hands on the ICS’ tiller.

Overall, there are few surprises and the region has retained most of its leaders who would be affected by the abolition of CCGs. Continuity is clearly key. The main exceptions are the current accountable officers of Somerset (James Rimmer) and BNSSG (Julia Ross) CCGs.

Focus now turns to assembling the rest of the ICB memberships across the ICSs. In total, these appointments will be as significant to the ICSs chances of success as the CEO and chair position, and they will tell us more about the likely forward direction of travel for each system.