Clinical Commissioning Group Chief Officer to Retire

NHS North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Chief Officer, Chris Dowse, has today (7 October) announced plans to retire after 4 years in post.

Chris will leave the organisation in March 2016. She intends to spend the next few months working with CCG Chair, Dr David Kelly, and the Governing Body to help put in place plans for a successor.

Since joining the CCG, Chris has been instrumental in driving significant improvement in local hospital services and leading on plans to bring healthcare closer to people’s homes. She has been active in her support for improving local primary care (GP) services and for greater integration across the health and social care sectors. In addition, Chris has worked extensively with colleagues across the region and, as Chair of the West Yorkshire Urgent Care Network, recently secured national support for service improvement from the NHS Vanguard programme.

Dr David Kelly, Chair of NHS North Kirklees CCG, said; “As one of the founding members of the CCG management team, Chris has made a huge contribution to its success as an organisation. She has constantly challenged us to work at pace and scale and as a result, ensured we are on track to deliver our ambitions of high quality care and sustainable local services. I will personally miss her drive, encouragement, enthusiasm and the support she has given me over the past few years. I wish her all the best for a long, healthy and happy retirement, which is much deserved.”

Chris Dowse said: “This has been an interesting role during a very challenging period for the NHS, but one I have very much enjoyed. Working with and for the residents of North Kirklees has been an immense privilege. I have come to know many local people personally and benefitted from their insight and support over the years. I will miss them and all my colleagues within the CCG and across the region. Amongst other things, I am now looking forward to being able to dedicate more time to activities in my local neighbourhood.”

Chris is a keen cook and gardener and is a member of the Roundhay Environmental Action Project.

Before joining NHS North Kirklees CCG in 2012, Chris worked in a number of senior positions in the NHS and Civil Service and was instrumental in designing the role of the community matron, which has now been adopted by the NHS.