Trust chief executive appointed to lead large STP

Mel Pickup, chief executive at Warrington and Halton Hospitals Foundation Trust, will take on the role for an initial 12 months while continuing to lead her trust. 

NHS England said Louise Shepherd, chief executive of Alder Hey Children’s FT, had indicated her wish to step down after a year in the role.

Ms Shepherd has recently taken over responsibility for Liverpool’s community services, as part of an interim arrangement following the controversial collapse of a procurement process.

Cheshire and Merseyside is one of the largest STPs and is split into three local delivery systems.

The initial plans for the region set out potential changes to accident and emergency services at Ms Pickup’s trust, including various options for reconfiguring services across Warrington and Halton Hospitals FT, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust, and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust.

Andrew Gibson was recently appointed as independent chair of the STP.

According to papers published locally, there is a view that the STP must “deliver on plans more quickly than it has been doing”.