ICS appoints retiring council director as first chair

David Pearson had been the lead of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS, and previously the patch’s sustainability and transformation partnership, since 2016. He stepped down from this role, having retired last month from his executive job as Nottinghamshire County Council director of adult social care and deputy chief executive.

But the ICS has asked him to become its non-executive chair from 1 March, and it was confirmed last month NHS England and NHS Improvement have approved the appointment. 

Mr Pearson has been a prominent advocate of social care funding reform and of health and social care integration. He is a member of the panel of experts advising government on its much-delayed social care green paper.

Last month’s NHS long-term plan for the first time created a requirement for ICS to have a non-executive chair, which several do not yet have. 

Nottingham and Notts was one of the first STPs designated as an “integrated care system”, and was the first to appoint a managing director, Wendy Saviour, while abolishing the NHS England area director role for the patch.

In December, Labour-led Nottingham City Council suspended its involvement in the ICS for six months, when it would review the situation. It is holding local elections in May.

Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group chair Hugh Porter said: “David’s dedication, passion and ambition have been critical to our system’s development to join up services across health and social care to provide the best care for the people of Nottinghamshire.

“The board is delighted to have David in post. He has been fundamental in driving the change and collaboration across health and care for many years. Nottinghamshire is privileged to have him on the board.”