Following an extensive recruitment process, Mary Hutton has been named as the Chief Executive designate of the Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), subject to the new statutory NHS body coming into being on 1 April 2022.
Mary has been the One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (ICS) lead since spring 2018, a voluntary partnership between the NHS and care organisations in the county to help keep people healthy, support active communities and ensure high quality, joined up care.
Since April 2013, she has also been Accountable Officer of NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, which plans and commissions (buys) local healthcare and support to meet local needs.
The new ICB organisation will fulfil the commissioning functions of the current CCG and some from NHS England; will be responsible for overseeing the day to day running of the NHS locally and for developing a plan to meet the healthcare needs of the population.
It will work hand in glove with a strong Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) bringing together health care, social care, public health and wider partners to develop a broader health and care plan for Gloucestershire (integrated care strategy).
Mary has enjoyed a distinguished 30 year career in the NHS in commissioning, performance and financial management. She has substantial leadership experience having held a number of senior roles, including working in Gloucestershire since 2011.
Before being appointed Accountable Officer for NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Mary was Director of Finance and Deputy CEO at Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (NHS Gloucestershire).
She was Director of Finance, Performance and Commissioning at NHS North Somerset between 2007 and 2011 and prior to that, she spent 15 years in senior roles, in Bristol, Swindon, Wiltshire and Berkshire responsible for achieving improvements in health care in challenging and complex environments.
Mary has worked across both statutory and non-statutory organisations, including hospital trusts, community and mental health services, ambulance services, the voluntary and community sector and the independent sector.
In her long career, Mary has shown a great passion for preventing ill health and supporting active communities, service user experience and quality of care.
Mary has a keen interest in youth work having been involved in a number of community projects for over 30 years. She is a volunteer mentor for young people in Stroud.
Commenting on her appointment, Mary said:
“I am so thrilled to be appointed. It’s a privilege to work in Gloucestershire where there is an incredibly strong partnership culture and an insatiable desire to deliver excellent care and empower people and communities to stay healthy.
We have huge challenges ahead, including supporting people and services through the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, placing an even greater focus on mental health, improving people’s health alongside local communities and tackling long standing health inequalities.
However, the desire in Gloucestershire to work together and deliver the best possible support and care to local people, including the most vulnerable, is a huge motivation for me.
We will strive to maximise the resources and opportunities available to us, support our dedicated health and care professionals, who have been simply amazing through the pandemic, and harness the considerable strengths and knowhow in our communities through strong citizen involvement.”
Welcoming her appointment, Chair designate of the Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Dame Gill Morgan said:
“This has been an extensive and inclusive recruitment process which has involved representatives from the NHS, local authority, care providers and the voluntary and community sector.
Mary was an excellent candidate and this is reflected in what she has achieved for Gloucestershire to date. Her commitment to healthcare, service user experience and strong desire to level up health outcomes for every citizen of this county continues to shine through.
Her vast and varied experience, knowledge and skills will be a huge asset to the new organisation and wider care partnership and her appointment will also bring stability at a time of huge challenges for the NHS and care sector.”
Elizabeth O’Mahony, Regional Director, NHS England and Improvement, South West commented:
“This is really great news for Gloucestershire. Mary has a proven track record in the county, is an extremely talented leader and is passionate about the power of partnership across the health and care sector to improve people’s lives.
I am so pleased that Gloucestershire will continue to benefit from her extensive knowledge and skills at this very challenging time. We look forward to working alongside her and other health and care partners to support recovery and build on the substantial progress already made by the One Gloucestershire family.”