Dr Stephen Rowlands, the current Medical Director of Wiltshire’s Primary Care Trust (PCT), has been elected Chairman of the new GP-led Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) that takes over from the PCT next April. Under the Health and Social Care Act, every CCG has to have a governing body to oversee its governance and decision-making.
Dr Rowlands (right) has been NHS Wiltshire’s Medical Director since April last year and as a working GP has been a senior partner with the Bradford Road surgery in Trowbridge since 1985. His role as Chair to the CCG will be an interim post until March 2013.
Over the coming months the CCG will be working with other health and social care providers such as the three NHS acute hospitals and Wiltshire Council, and making arrangements for involving members of the public, patients, carers and voluntary organisations, so as they are ready to take over from the PCT. They will start a process for authorisation as a statutory commissioning organisation later this year.
Dr Rowlands said: “The agenda for the next eleven months is extremely demanding and I am very keen to support the transition from PCT to clinical commissioning as smoothly as possible. I’m honoured to have been chosen as Chair of the Wiltshire CCG, which brings together all GPs in the county to help steer the provision and development of local health services for Wiltshire people. This is an exciting opportunity to build on the good work of NHS Wiltshire”.
Ed Macalister-Smith, Chief Executive of NHS Wiltshire said: “I am delighted that Steve has accepted the role, and the people of Wiltshire should feel confident in Steve’s experience, his focus on patient safety and clinical excellence, and his ability to lead such complex changes”.
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