Movers and shakers news round up

Digital Health looks at the latest round-up of movers and shakers in health and care, which this month includes appointments at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

Kate Bratt-Farrar has been appointed the new chief executive of Heart Research UK.

Bratt-Farrar, who most recently served as the director of the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice has previously acted as chief executive of Leeds Women’s Aid and has worked in policy and research at Cerebra, Save the Children and the Department of Health.

She replaces Barbara Harpham, who is stepping down after almost 16 years with the charity.

Commenting on her appointment, Bratt-Farrar said: “I am delighted to be joining the dedicated and vibrant team at Heart Research UK.

“I look forward to supporting the organisation to further flourish in the coming years as we raise more vital funds to do more of what we do best – invest in ground-breaking research, crucial education and in our communities themselves to promote heart health and cutting-edge treatment.”

Richard Brown, Heart Research UK’s chair of trustees, added: “The trustees of Heart Research UK are delighted to welcome Kate as our new Chief Executive.

“The Trustees and all at Heart Research UK are looking forward to working with Kate. Her skills and enthusiasm will enable us to continue and expand our pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.”

Tosca Fairchild has been appointed the new assistant CEO at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust.

Fairchild, who boasts senior experience in corporate affairs, corporate governance, clinical governance, compliance, risk management, legal services and communications, joins the trust from her role as director of governance & communications at University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust.

She has previously held roles at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Derby Hospital, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Foundation Trust and Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust.

Fairchild, who will begin her new role on 4 November, called the appointment a “huge privilege”.

Peter Axon, chief executive of North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, added: “We could not be more delighted with Tosca’s appointment. Her commitment to the Trust values and her outstanding leadership qualities, together with her previous experience, will be a great asset to Combined.”

Former chief executive of NHS Improvement, Ian Dalton, has been appointed to executive chair of the Government Automation Taskforce.

Dalton will develop and accelerate the government’s automation agenda, ensuring that central government is fully prepared for, and best able to take advantage of, opportunities to deliver better, more efficient, public services using automation technologies.

The former Improvement executive has a back-catalogue of prominent roles in healthcare and government, having previously acted as CEO of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, COO and Deputy CEO at NHS England and CEO of NHS North of England, the North East Strategic Health Authority.

Dalton has also acted in senior positions at the Department of Health.

He began his role within the Government’s Automation Taskforce on 8 July.

Dalton said: “I am thrilled to be taking up this position. Adoption of new technologies helps to deliver services more effectively, including making cancer diagnosis more reliable or reducing fraud.

“This can have a huge impact on people’s lives – and I want to be at the forefront of this ground-breaking technology.”

Professor Martin Marshall has been elected chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

Marshall has been a GP for almost 30 years and has previously acted as director of R&D at the Health Foundation, deputy chief medical officer for England and director general in the Department of Health.

He will shadow Professor Stokes-Lampard until her three-year term ends in November this year.

Marshall said Stokes-Lampard would leave “a strong legacy” for him to build on.

“I am honoured and humbled to be elected as the next Chair of the RCGP and will do everything I can to represent the views of frontline GPs across the UK,” Marshall added.

“I have a passionate commitment to the values of the NHS, and to patient care, and our professional voice is central at this time of great change.

‘I would like to thank my fellow candidates, Simon and Kamila, for running such a dignified campaign, and the members of Council who have put their trust and confidence in me.”

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