Doctor takes over as health chief

LOCAL GP Dr Andy Davies – chairman of Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group since it was established – has been appointed the group’s clinical chief officer.
He replaces Dr Sarah Baker, who retired in June, on health grounds
Dr Davies, a GP at Greenbank Surgery, has been at the heart of the work at NHS Warrington CCG since its first day, helping to lead it through authorisation and into the trailblazing organisation it is today.
He said: “I have loved every minute of being the GP chair of NHS Warrington CCG and I relish the challenge of becoming clinical chief officer.
“The experience I have gained from being chair will prepare me well for the role I am due to formally start on December 1.
“I would like to thank John Wicks, interim chief officer, who has taken charge of the CCG for the past 12 months and done a great job in leading the organisation during Sarah’s illness.”
Under Dr Davies’ chairmanship, NHS Warrington CCG was named commissioning organisation of the year in 2012 in the prestigious Health Service Journal Awards.
Since then, the group has gone on to be recognised as one of the leading CCGs in the country for its innovation and ability to make clinically-led changes for the benefit of patients, including winning an additional £3.3m to invest in modernising GP and community health services in
Warrington.
Mr Wicks said: “I am delighted to be handing the reigns to Andy, it has been a pleasure to work with such an engaged and motivated doctor and I have no doubt the CCG will go from strength to strength under his leadership.”
Nick Atkin, deputy lay chairman, will be taking the role of lay chairman while the CCG looks to recruit a successor to Dr Davies.
NHS Warrington CCG is made up of 26 Warrington GP practices and has a budget of £239m.