ICB chief to retire to make way for ‘new era’

The chief executive of one of England’s largest health systems has announced his retirement.

Graham Urwin has led Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board since it was established in July 2022.

Previously he was an NHS England regional performance director, including serving as covid-19 incident director for the North West, following posts as chief executive of South Birmingham Primary Care Trust and Stoke-on-Trent PCT. Earlier, he was a finance director in trusts and primary care.

Mr Urwin will step down next June following four decades in public service.

Mr Urwin said: “It has been the most tremendous privilege and honour to have worked with so many dedicated and talented people…

“Next year the NHS will be embarking on a new era, with the launch of the NHS 10-year plan. Which is why I feel the time is right for me to hand the baton over to a new future leader.”

Mr Urwin’s retirement comes amid a series of significant leadership and structural changes in the region.

Several long-serving trust leaders have announced retirements over the past year and NHSE regional director Richard Barker departed in June.

Cheshire and Merseyside ICB chair Raj Jain said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Graham for being an outstanding leader and a truly inspirational chief executive who has dedicated his entire career to public service…

“His unwavering determination and commitment to bring about system-wide collaborative working and always putting patients first is commendable.”

Cheshire and Merseyside was formed in 2022 from nine clinical commissioning groups and serves a population of more than 2.4 million — one of the largest.

The system has made significant strides consolidating provider leadership in Merseyside over the past year, which many felt was overdue. But it has severe financial problems and is among the systems ordered to bring in consultants to tackle overspending this year. 

The ICS has started recruitment for a new chief executive, a statement added.

Gloucestershire ICS also needs to find a new CEO, due to retirement, while South West London has a recruitment process underway.