Aaron Cummins, Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), has been appointed as the Lead Chief Executive of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative (PCB). This follows the recent announcement that Kevin McGee is to retire from the NHS following 38 years of service.
Aaron, who has been the deputy lead Chief Executive of the PCB since September 2021, will start in the role once Kevin retires at the end of September 2023. Aaron will remain as Chief Executive at UHMBT.
The PCB is made up of the five NHS trusts in Lancashire and South Cumbria, and together, we have a joint vision to improve our clinical services through collaboration - addressing the significant challenges we face and improving care across the whole area. This includes working together to ensure clinically and financially sustainable services that improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities, and offer a great place to work for everyone.
The main role of the Lead Chief Executive of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Provider Collaborative (PCB) is to support the system to embed provider collaboration.
Commenting on his appointment, Aaron said: "It is a privilege to be asked to lead the critical work of local NHS providers working together collaboratively. We've already seen the benefits of the PCB working 'as one' in response to surges in demand and in its planning for industrial action, where services have been kept safe despite pressures.
“Going forward, my aim is to build on this good work and develop those relationships further to really understand what the art of the possible is and co-designing what that could look like in practice with our colleagues, public, and patients.
“I'd like to pay tribute to the leadership of Kevin McGee who has shown great tenacity and integrity in the way he led and brought all providers together; I will do my very best to uphold the high standards he has set. I wish Kevin and his family the best of health and success in his exciting new role as Director General for the Gibraltar Health Service.”
Professor Mike Thomas, Lead Chair of the PCB, said: “I’d like to formally thank Kevin on behalf of the PCB for his hard work and dedication; and welcome Aaron to the role. Aaron has been instrumental in the work we have done as a collaborative so far; and I speak on behalf of myself and the other PCB Chairs when I say that we look forward to working with him when he starts in the role later in the coming months.”