Troubled STP appoints trust chief to lead role

Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust chief executive Roland Sinker has been appointed as the interim accountable officer for the STP, a position he will hold out in addition to his existing trust role.

Mr Sinker replaces previous interim accountable officer Sheila Bremner, who has finished a short term contract which started in January.

Ms Bremner previously headed up Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group and the STP. But a scathing review of the CCG concluded the chief leadership role was too demanding to combine with other roles such as leading the STP.

Mr Bremner’s predecessor Tracey Dowling also stepped down from the STP role in order to focus on her main role as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough FT chief executive.

The STP confirmed the appointment. A spokeswoman told HSJ the STP planned for Mr Sinker to retain the interim role “for the next six to nine months”.

“Towards the end of this period there will be a review to determine the ongoing arrangements,” the spokeswoman said.

Developing a robust leadership and governance structure for the STP represents a significant challenge. Mr Sinker’s appointment followed the CCG – which is coterminous with the STP – last week being relegated from “requires improvement” to one of 18 CCGs rated “inadequate” by NHS England in its latest CCG ratings.

The area’s STP plan published in October 2016, warned the health economy faced a potential £250m deficit by 2020-21, driven by a rapidly growing and ageing population and existing demand and financial problems.

Mr Sinker said in a statement: “I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with health and social care partners in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough STP, building on the progress made so far, to address the key challenges faced by our health and care system.

“Our collective focus must be on providing high quality, integrated and cost effective services to meet the needs of our local population now and in the future.”