NHS puts in place new leaders for transition

Regional directors of the NHS Commissioning Board and Trust Development Authority will take over operational responsibility from PCT and SHA leaders from 1 October.

NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson announced the decision to appoint new NHS leaders six months ahead of the formal transition date in a letter to all chief executives of current NHS bodies.

This will be the “last significant organisational change” before April 2013, Nicholson said, and its aim is to “achieve the right combination of resilience in the current system and effective leadership of the new system”.

Regional directors of the NHSCB and NHS TDA will manage ongoing operational delivery for 2012/13 and planning for 2013/14. They will be accountable to the PCTs and SHAs for current system delivery and to the Board and TDA for future planning and development.

The SHAs and PCTs will retain their statutory functions and governance arrangements until April 2013, but will no longer have operational responsibility. There will be no formal transfer of budgets or staff before then.

Regional directors of the NHSCB will take on management responsibility for the teams managing operational delivery and planning. NHS TDA regional directors will do the same in relation to Foundation Trust activity.

Health Education England will take on responsibility for workforce planning, education and training from 31 October 2012. Public Health England will take on its functions from January 2013. The new arrangements will not affect the schedule or roles for CCGs or local authorities.