New Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB chair announced

Emma Woollett has been appointed new chair for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).

She arrives with a wealth of knowledge and experience, which includes being chair of Swansea University Health Board and chair of West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board until recently, and a member of the board of trustees at the NHS Confederation.

On her appointment at the ICB, Emma Woollett said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as chair of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, and having heard about some of the great work taking place across the ICB to improve health and care for the population, I look forward to meeting many new colleagues over the coming weeks.

“I believe the ICB has a clear vision and strong ambitions to improve quality, transform care in the community and address the challenges our NHS services face across acute, mental health and primary care. I am excited to be able to draw on my previous experience to help further the progress that has already been made.”

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Emma’s previous experience includes work as an independent management consultant providing strategic support to acute NHS providers nationwide alongside positions as non-executive director and vice chair at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

The incoming chair has a particular interest in encouraging the exchange of ideas between different organisations and sectors to find innovative solutions.

She added: “I look forward to supporting even more collaboration across health and care to achieve the central ambition of improving the health and wellbeing of people in Lancashire and South Cumbria, working with partners across health, care, local authorities and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector.”

Having been appointed interim chair at Swansea Bay University Health Board in 2019, the position became substantive the following year – a role that she has held up until making the move to Lancashire and South Cumbria.

ICB chief executive Kevin Lavery said: “I am pleased to welcome Emma Woollett to Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.

“Our core ambition is to have a high-quality, community-centred health and care system by 2035, using the resources that we already have at our disposal to improve outcomes and the health of our patients and wider population.

“With her vast experience in supporting public sector and charitable organisations to navigate and embrace change in line with clear strategic goals, I am sure that Emma will encourage a solution-focused approach to the ongoing development of our health and care system.

Her extensive knowledge of healthcare organisations and the challenges we face will also prove invaluable.

“I am sure Emma will be a great addition to the organisation and I very much look forward to working with her.”

Emma’s appointment begins on 1 September, taking over from acting chair Roy Fisher, who replaced David Flory in March this year when he was appointed chair of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.