Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board has appointed its new designate chief executive.
Sue Harriman, currently Chief Executive of Solent NHS Community and Mental Health Trust in Hampshire, has been selected for the role after a “competitive and robust recruitment process” was overseen by NHS England and Improvement.
The board, which is expected to be officially established in April 2022, will take on the functions of the current Clinical Commissioning Group and work with the region’s wider Integrated Care System (ICS), the BSW Partnership.
Sue, who will leave her role at Solent in February 2022, has been in her post at the Hampshire trust since 2014. She has also spent time as a nurse in the Royal Navy, was previously an NHS nurse consultant, and has held a number of executive roles within NHS, including Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director.
According to Solent NHS, Andrew Strevens, the trust’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer, will “second into the role of Interim Chief Executive” while Sue’s replacement is recruited.
Sue, who also this year completed a six-month secondment as Chief Operating Officer for the national COVID-19 vaccination deployment programme, said of her new role: “I’m really looking forward to joining NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board as designate Chief Executive.
“I firmly believe that by better joining up health and care services, we can improve services, patient outcomes and the health and wellbeing of local people, whilst also making improvements for those of us working in health care.”
Of her decision to leave Solent, she commented: “Solent NHS Trust really is a wonderful trust full of incredible people who all go above and beyond for the benefit of local people
“I will be very sad to leave Solent and the amazing people who work here, but now is the right time for me to move on and for me to hand over the leadership of Solent as it continues on its journey to become an ‘outstanding’ trust.”
Stephanie Elsy, Chair-designate of the BSW Partnership said of Sue’s decision to join: “Sue is an outstanding CEO and has a wealth of experience in health and care leadership, transformation and community engagement.
“I am delighted she will be joining us to lead our partnership in achieving our shared vision of improving health outcomes and working together to empower people to lead their best life.”
