Chief officer of struggling CCGs steps down

Amanda Philpott will be replaced by Adam Doyle at both Hastings and Rother, and Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCGs. Mr Doyle now becomes the accountable officer for all eight CCGs in the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

Ms Philpott has been seconded as director of health and care strategy across the STP area where she will work on a whole system commissioning strategy.

Jessica Britton, the current chief operating officer for the two CCGs will become managing director for them and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisations, which already work closely together.

The changes have been approved by NHS England and the clinical chairs of the eight CCGs.

Felicity Cox, NHS England director of commissioning operations for Kent, Surrey, Sussex said: “We fully support this development and believe it will strengthen the leadership of commissioning across Sussex and East Surrey. The CCGs across the STP are facing similar financial challenges and these changes will put them in a better position to address them.”

Ms Philpott’s departure comes after NHS England placed the two CCGs under legal directions in July.

They had a combined deficit of £37m in 2017-18 and have been given a “non-negotiable” target deficit of £32m for 2018-19.

Ms Philpott said: “These moves will truly benefit both the local and wider health and care system. Adam Doyle will provide strong overarching leadership for the CCGs and my new role will allow me to pursue a cause to which I am wholly committed, unlocking clinical care pathways to get the best benefit for the people of Sussex and East Surrey.“

Burgeoning deficits at many CCGs in Sussex and at the key provider in the eastern area, East Sussex Healthcare Trust, have been concerning NHS Improvement and NHS England for some time. Last week the chair of East Sussex Healthcare Trust, David Clayton-Smith, announced he was standing down before the end of his term.