DOCTORS representative Simon Trickett, the accountable officer for NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, NHS South Worcestershire CCG and NHS Wyre Forest CCG, has been appointed to hold the same position for the county of Herefordshire.
Mr Trickett will take over from Simon Hairsnape when he retires in May this year and it means the two counties, representing four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will have one single accountable officer.
An accountable officer is there to ensure the individual CCGs show good governance in their actions.
The move opens the door for a rationalisation of the two counties’ CCGs although a letter seen by us states there are “no current plans for any CCG merges” saying CCG decisions will remain locally led.
It then goes on to add: “However the appointment presents an opportunity for the CCGs to work closer together across the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) ‘footprint’ to deliver improved care for patients.”
The STP is a major health initiative designed to re-shape health provision across the two counties.
The issue for towns like Redditch and Bromsgrove is that they are closer to Birmingham rather than Hereford and Worcester with all their major transport links leading to the Second City.
Redditch is also a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
