New health commission boss named

Mr Selbie has been named as chairman of the Commission for Health and Social Care Integration in the North East.

The commission will look at how services are provided and at the potential for further collaboration and integration in a bid to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the region.

It is being established by the North East Combined Authority (neca) and the National Health Service as part of the proposed devolution agreement signed in October.

Mr Selbie said: “It is a great privilege to have been asked to chair the commission. I look forward to the challenge of helping ensure that the combined authority has the best possible blueprint for integration and collaboration.”

Simon Henig, chairman of NECA, said: “We are very pleased that Duncan Selbie has agreed to chair the Commission for Health and Social Care Integration in the North East.

“He brings significant experience, knowledge and understanding in this field and is extremely well placed to oversee the commission’s work in identifying how we can build on our strengths and tackle the health challenges we face in our region.”

Tim Rideout, director of commissioning for NHS England, Cumbria and the North East, said: “Devolution provides a real opportunity for health and social care commissioners and providers to work even more closely to best meet the needs of local populations. 

“It should give us more ways of doing this at a strategic and planning level, but also in terms of bringing staff together to deliver more seamless services in relation to care, treatment and support, including health improvement work.”

The commission will look across a range of services, including acute and primary care, community services, mental health services, social care and public health.

It is expected to report in the summer of 2016, making recommendations for further devolution and integration.

Mr Selbie took up his current post as chief executive of Public Health England in 2013.

From 2007 to 2012, he was chief executive of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals, the regional teaching hospital for the south east of England.

He has also held senior posts at national level within the Department of Health, the role of chief executive of South East London Strategic Health Authority and, prior to that, chief

executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.