Former Southern Health director takes up new executive role

A former regional adviser for the Care Quality Commission has been appointed executive medical director at a community and mental health trust.

Humber Foundation Trust has appointed Health Foundation GenerationQ fellow and GP Dr John Byrne, it has been announced today. Dr Byrne is a former clinical director of Southern Health FT, who left the scandal-hit trust in 2014 to advise the CQC.

Chief executive Michele Moran said: “John’s clinical, regulatory and quality improvement experience, excellent commercial skills, strong record of partnership working and relentless focus on high-quality patient care make him an outstanding addition to our team.”

With the East Yorkshire trust running five GP practices and advanced negotiations under way over the addition of a further two, the appointment of a GP in the senior role underlines Humber’s ambitions to set up and run a multispecialty care provider.

Alongside its core provision of mental health services, Humber is currently one of three organisations shortlisted by Scarborough and Ryedale CCG for a seven-year, £80m MCP contract.

Dr Byrne replaces Dr Dasari Michael, who returns to his role as a consultant psychiatrist at the trust after three years serving as medical director.

He announced his decision to step down earlier this year. The trust has been seeking a replacement ever since to strengthen its board after it was rated “requires improvement” overall, including the ”well-led” domain, in its 2016 CQC inspection. Strengthening the board has been a priority for Ms Moran since was appointed chief executive in January.

Dr Byrne was appointed locality medical director for Hampshire Community Healthcare in 2008, becoming clinical director for integrated care at Southern Health in 2011.

He later joined the CQC in 2014 as general practice regional adviser for its Birmingham-based primary medical services team.

Dr Byrne said: “Although there are challenges, there are many opportunities, and I will use my clinical and quality improvement experience, particularly those aspects gained through leading innovation and change, to ensure the trust makes the most of them.”