YHCS announces formation of Primary Care Advisory Group

 As delegates from around the NHS Northern Region focused on creating the future of primary care at a meeting in Leeds yesterday, Yorkshire and Humber Commissioning Support announced the formation of its Primary Care Advisory Group.

 Bringing together some leading thinkers in the field of primary care today, the group comprises:

David Colin-Thomé OBE has 36 years' experience as a GP and is former national director for primary care at the Department of Health. David was director of primary care at the Department of Health's London regional office, and senior medical officer at the Scottish Office NHS Management Executive. He was also formerly a member of Halton Health Authority, Cheshire Family Health Services Authority and a local councillor. David is an honorary visiting professor at Manchester Business School, Manchester University and of the School of Health, University of Durham.

John Bibby is a GP and Lay Advisor to the YHCS board. John has extensive experience and expertise in the education of both undergraduate and post graduate medics. He developed an interest in Service Redesign following the introduction of GP Fundholding in 1990, and went on to redesign/develop several services in Bradford. John has expertise in quality improvement and leadership training, initially at the Improvement Foundation as clinical advisor. He has designed and delivered Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Training Programmes in all health sectors both in the UK as well as in Australia and Canada.

Mo Girach is a special advisor to the NHS Alliance, is an accredited assessor for Investors in People and an Associate Consultant at the King's Fund. He is Chief Executive of the Partnership of East London Co-Operatives (PELC). Mo has spent a varied career in NHS management and advises a number of CCGs. He has written and spoken on social enterprise, co-ops and mutuals and on commissioning at international level. Mo advises a number of GP/Social Enterprise provider units, including the GP Federation Models and Right to Request Social Enterprise. He is currently working on a large scale joint project involving a large consortium, local authority and local FT on tele-health with particular reference to long term conditions.

Maddy Ruff is Managing Director at YHCS and a member of the expert panel advising the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund. Maddy's experience in primary care includes her earlier role as Director of Primary Care at Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust.
 

The YHCS Primary Care team is led by Associate Director, Catherine Dymond.

Commenting on the Advisory Group's formation Catherine Dymond said:

"This expert group is committed to leading primary care development for the benefit of more than five million patients who live in our region. We believe that their experience will help us create truly innovative solutions to the primary care challenge".

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For further information:
Rachel Williams 
T: 07958 277409 
E: rachel.williams41@nhs.net