Chairman chosen to improve standards of healthcare

AN independent chairman has been appointed to an NHS body set up to improve the quality of services.

David Sissling took on the role at the Integrated Care System (ICS).

The ICS will enable all NHS organisations to work with local government, the voluntary sector and communities.

Mr Sissling, who started this week, will be working closely with Andy Williams, the chief executive of the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) for the city and counties.

Mr Sissling will combine the role with his work with NHS England and NHS Improvement as senior leadership advisor for the Midlands.

He was chief executive of Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust between 1998 and 2000 and then moved on to a number of regional and national roles including leadership of the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Authority and NHS Wales.

He said: “I started my NHS career locally. I have, over that time, grown to understand its many strengths and distinctive qualities – its diversity, its cohesion, the widespread enterprise, the excellence of its public services and a growing sense of ambition. I am also aware of the scale of the challenges we face and, in particular, the need to maintain an effective response to the ongoing pandemic.”

Mr Williams said: “We are delighted to have attracted and recruited a candidate of David’s outstanding calibre and experience, which is combined with his understanding of, and passion for, the people and places of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

“We are proud of the significant progress we have made as a partnership over the past 12 months and David’s appointment will be key to building on this further.

“We very much look forward to working with him.”

The appointment followed a competitive selection process.