A new joint Chief Executive has been appointed to lead the Devon Integrated Care System.
Jane Milligan, currently working in a similar role in north east London, will also become Accountable Officer for NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Jane has worked for the NHS for 33 years and has extensive experience at a senior level. She is currently Accountable Officer for the NHS North East London Commissioning Alliance (comprising City and Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge CCGs) and is also Senior Responsible Officer for the East London Health and Care Partnership.
Her appointment marks a return to Devon, having previously spent six years working as a clinician in the county and in Cornwall. Her family and friends are based in the south west, her wife is from North Cornwall and they are planning to relocate to the region from London.
Dame Suzi Leather, Independent Chair of the Devon Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP), said: “Jane is clearly a collaborative and influential leader and a strategic thinker whose track record of delivery across complex environments is impressive.
“I am delighted we have been able to draw her back to Devon where her experience, commitment and values will bring real benefit to patients and residents.” Jane has worked in north east London for nearly 19 years, starting as Head of Physiotherapy at Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and undertaking a variety of senior roles. She has been Accountable Officer for NEL Commissioning Alliance since 2017, and also led on a number of programmes at a London level including mental health transformation.
Under her leadership, major improvements have been delivered across a range of health and care services, and annual NHS England ratings, published earlier this month, confirm that all seven NEL CCGs have been rated either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ for 2019/20.
Jane said: “I have worked with an amazing number of people and teams during my time in north east London and I have particularly enjoyed my current role. I am extremely proud of everything we have achieved together across all our partners, especially in our response to COVID-19.
“I am looking forward to a new role and fresh challenge in the south west, particularly as I started my career in Devon. It is a part of the country I always intended to return to, which is why when this opportunity came up I was keen to pursue it, but I will very much miss north east London and the many colleagues I have worked with over the years. It has been a privilege to lead such a committed and hardworking team.”
Devon is working towards becoming an Integrated Care System in early 2021, building on the work being done by a partnership of health and social care organisations, alongside local communities, to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Jane will take up her new role as its joint Chief Executive in the spring.
As Accountable Officer at Devon CCG Jane will succeed Simon Tapley, who has held the post on an interim basis for more than two years and who will return to his substantive role as chief operating officer.
Devon CCG Clinical Chair Dr Paul Johnson said: “Simon has done an absolutely magnificent job in leading our organisation through merger to where we are today.
“He has brought a very professional and refreshing approach to how we work. The CCG is unrecognisable from where we were some years ago. Simon has helped us to foster a ‘one team’ ethos and this will undoubtedly provide a firm foundation on which Jane will now build.
“We would also like to thank Philippa Slinger, whose drive and tenacity as Interim Chief Executive for the Devon Sustainability and Transformation Partnership since 2019, have been second to none.”
Marie Gabriel, Independent Chair of East London Health and Care Partnership and the emerging NEL ICS, said: “Jane has done a fantastic job in north east London and achieved a great deal during her time as accountable officer for North East London Commissioning Alliance and executive lead for East London Health and Care Partnership.
“Under her leadership, our system has gone from strength to strength and we are on the cusp of becoming an Integrated Care System in recognition of the progress we’ve made.
“We are very sorry to see Jane go and wish her well. As a partnership, we have an exciting ambition for north east London and we will work together to ensure that we appoint the right successor to achieve this.”
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