We are pleased to announce the appointment of the Chair Designate of the future organisation, Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB). The appointment is part of the transformation of the ICS to become a statutory body by April 2022.
Paul von der Heyde, has been approved by the Secretary of State as the independent future Chair Designate of the Somerset ICB.
Paul is well known within the Somerset health and care system and has been Chair of Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since January 2016, having been on the board of Yeovil District Hospital since June 2012. Paul was in practice in London for almost 30 years specialising in helping clients’ business thrive in good and in challenging times, following which he led the UK arm of an international group for 11 years. He chairs two charities. Paul is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Earlier this year, the government announced new legislation to enshrine ICSs in law, which will take the form of an Integrated Care Board (NHS) and Integrated Care Partnership (all health and care partners). As outlined in the proposed legislation, the Integrated Care Board will include an Independent Chair.
The appointment comes following a competitive and open national recruitment process led by NHS England and Improvement.
James Rimmer, currently the system leader of the Somerset Integrated Care System (ICS) and Chief Executive of Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group said:
“I am delighted to welcome Paul as Chair of Somerset ICS and Chair Designate of the future Somerset ICB. Paul has a wealth of experience and strong roots in Somerset. All of this valuable experience means Paul is in a great position to take forward our ambition for the people of Somerset to live healthy independent lives, supported by thriving communities with timely and easy access to high quality and efficient public services when they need them.
“He joins the ICS at an exciting time as partners continue the journey to truly integrated working across health and care in Somerset. We have a real opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of people in Somerset. This appointment takes us a step closer to formalising the arrangements which will enable us to become a statutory body by April 2022.”
Paul, Chair Designate of the Somerset ICB, said “I am thrilled to have been chosen to drive the next steps on our way to delivering truly integrated health and care services to the population who we serve. This is dear to my heart. The commissioners and providers within the Somerset system have come a long way together over the last few years and built a real sense of mutual purpose. It has been a pleasure to be a part of forging the strong bonds which will hold us all together as we proceed. We have lots to do, the foundations we have built are sound and our vision for the future is clear and ambitious”.
Somerset ICS is a partnership of Somerset County Council, NHS services and the community and voluntary sector, all working together to address local health, wellbeing, quality and financial challenges across the county.
A key feature of the proposed Health and Care Bill will be for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to work with an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) committee which will be formed jointly with Local Authority Partners. Together the ICP and ICB will become the ICS.
The Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB) board will bring together leaders from the local health and care system to oversee and co-ordinate the transformation and arrangement of health and care services, making sure they are focused on the needs of people in Somerset, in line with the aims of our long-term plan and the Fit for My Future programme (Somerset’s health and care strategy).