South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System (SYB ICS) has announced the appointment of its Independent Chair and Chair Designate of the future organisation, the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (SY ICB). The announcement is part of the transformation of the ICS to become a statutory body by April 2022.
Following a recruitment process, Pearse Butler, who was most recently chair at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has now been approved by the Secretary of State as the Independent Chair of the current SYB ICS and future Designate Chair of the SY ICB.
Earlier this year, the government announced new legislation to enshrine ICSs in law, which will take the form of an Integrated Care Board (NHS) and Integrated Partnership (all health and care partners). As outlined in the proposed legislation, the Integrated Care Board will include an Independent Chair and Chief Executive.
Sir Andrew Cash, South Yorkshire Integrated Care System Leader, said: “I am delighted to welcome Pearse as Independent Chair of the SYB ICS and Designate Chair of the future SY ICB. He joins the ICS at a very exciting time as partners continue the journey to truly integrated working across health and care. This appointment takes us a step closer to formalising the necessary arrangements which will enable us to become a statutory body by April 2022.
“As an independent chair, his experience and insights will be invaluable in helping the ICS meet its ambition for everyone in South Yorkshire to have the best possible start in life, with support to be healthy and live well, for longer.”
Pearse said: “I am very pleased to be joining as the Independent Chair of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System and Chair Designate of the future South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. I recently moved to the area and am very much looking forward to working with colleagues from across the NHS, local authorities and voluntary and community organisations to improve the health and healthcare of South Yorkshire’s population by shaping the future of integrated care.
“I look forward to continuing the work of the partnership which has an excellent reputation as one of the first ICSs in the country, for its innovative approach and strong leadership.”