Posted on: 21 June 2022
An independent chair has been appointed to the Bradford District Health and Care Partnership to head up a new committee that will be responsible for making decisions about how NHS resources are used across the place. Craven resident, Elaine Appelbee MBE will be taking up the reins on 1 July 2022.
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board is a new statutory organisation that will be established on 1 July 2022. It will be part of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System – known as the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
As part of the new health and care arrangements, most decisions will be made at a place level in support of local Wellbeing Board priorities. The Bradford District and Craven place-based committee will be known as the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Board and includes representation from health, care, local government and the community and voluntary sector across the area the partnership covers.
After an open and transparent recruitment process, including a stakeholder panel involving representatives from community groups serving the district, Elaine Appelbee MBE has been appointed to the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Board. This is an Integrated Care Board Committee with authority from the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to make decisions about the use of NHS resources across Bradford District and Craven.
This appointment will play a key role in bringing constructive, independent and respectful challenge to the plans, aims and priorities for the Partnership, as well as ensuring openness and transparency in the decision making process for local communities.
Elaine brings a wealth of extensive experience in public and social enterprise organisations with her work informing policy and practice nationally as well as locally.
Elaine’s career started in social care before moving into community work. Since then, she has held senior leadership positions across Bradford District and Craven including roles as Chief Executive for Bradford Vision and Health Action Zone Director for Bradford Health Authority. Elaine was awarded an MBE for her work to design and deliver the Millennium Awards Grant Scheme for Bradford.
Her most recent experience has seen her provide consultancy support working across the country with local government, health, voluntary sector and local communities. This includes facilitating Community Partnerships with Bradford District GPs; working with the Government of Jersey and partners to re-design children’s mental health and wellbeing services for the island and facilitating the Bradford VCS Alliance’s work to respond to local health and care winter pressures.
Away from work Elaine enjoys walking in the Dales, attending and volunteering at her local church, St Thomas’ in Sutton-in-Craven, and spending time with her family in Haworth and California.
In response to her appointment Elaine said:
“I’m a firm believer in the strengths of people and communities, the very strengths we will need as we look to meet our challenges head on. I’ve been impressed by the Act as One ethos that drives the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. I very much look forward to being part of our journey as we look to level the playing field across our communities by putting them at the centre of our decision making alongside our skilled health and care workforce from across our partnership.”
Mel Pickup, Place Based Lead (Designate) for the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership and Chief Executive for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“To secure someone of the calibre of Elaine, who brings with her a wealth of experience locally and nationally, is a really positive development for our partnership. Our Act as One approach has helped us develop a strong partnership, one that we are very proud of and we are delighted that Elaine will lead us through the next steps of our partnership.
“We have ambitious plans to tackle challenges such as the deepening inequalities, growing and retaining our workforce and ensuring people can access the care they need as quickly as possible with the right professional in the right place. We also want to build on the ground-breaking work that goes on locally from the world-leading Born in Bradford research project through to the fantastic recent news that Bradford will be the City of Culture 2025.”
Cathy Elliott, Chair-Designate for the NHS West Yorkshire ICB said:
“I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Elaine Appelbee as local place-based committee chair, for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership. This important appointment will further support our approach of putting communities at the centre of all thinking. I’m looking forward to working closely with Elaine in their new role for the benefit of everyone living across the area.”