The Board of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) is delighted to announce the appointment of Louise Patten as interim chief executive officer (CEO).

Louise, who is chief officer at NHS Aylesbury Vale and NHS Chiltern CCGs in Buckinghamshire, will begin her Oxfordshire role on 1 January 2018, following the retirement of David Smith who has been at the helm of OCCG since April 2014.

During the recent recruitment process it became apparent to OCCG that the management expertise required at this point in time lies in a system leadership approach. For these reasons, OCCG has asked Louise Patten to act as its CEO and Accountable Officer (AO) for an interim period.

Louise will remain as AO in Buckinghamshire with the support of colleagues, but a key focus during the year will be to help develop the Oxfordshire system working.  The recruitment process for a permanent leader of OCCG will be deferred until next year.

Louise is an experienced leader and registered nurse. In the past few years she has been involved in federating NHS Aylesbury Vale and NHS Chiltern CCGs and further developing the Buckinghamshire health and care system collaborative working, including with the hospital trust, local authority, GP federation and other local providers.

She has led the successful Buckinghamshire application to become one of the first eight NHS Accountable Care Systems. These are being set up across the country to provide joined up, better coordinated care between GPs and hospitals, physical and mental healthcare and social care. Louise is committed to a clinically led model of system working; this is reflected in Buckinghamshire’s track record for the development of strong local and national clinical leaders.

Louise said: “I am really looking forward to working with colleagues in Oxfordshire. I hope the experience I bring in leading one of the first Accountable Care Systems will enhance the plans for transforming health and social care services in Oxfordshire.

“Patients want to see organisations working together as one body responsible for their health and care, getting the best outcomes and offering value for the money we have available.”

Dr Kiren Collison, clinical chair of Oxfordshire CCG, said: “Louise will bring a wealth of experience which will help Oxfordshire drive forward its plans for more collaborative working between health and social care providers. The Board strongly believes this approach is the best way to ensure safe, good quality and value for money health and care services across the county.

“Although we have not been able to appoint a permanent CEO, we are looking forward to welcoming Louise into the interim role.”