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A health service body has poached a council chief to steer the organisation through the predicted tough times ahead. Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority (SHA) made the surprise announcement that chief executive of City of York Council, Bill McCarthy, would be its new man at the top. With efficiency savings and modernisation now on the Government's agenda, health authorities will increasingly be looking to managers able to create leaner organisations. Welcoming him to his new role, NHS chief executive, David Nicholson, pointed to a need to improve the quality of care for patients, and that part of the work of SHA chief executives included setting the strategic direction for the health service. Mr McCarthy's experience would also help health services work more closely with local government to meet the tougher targets in local area agreements across critical issues, such as older peoples' care and child protection. He will take up his new role in August, after 18 months in the top role at the council. Mr McCarthy was previously at the Department of Health, where he was director general of policy and strategy, director of strategic development, West Yorkshire SHA and director of planning and performance at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust before that. Mr McCarthy said: ‘This opportunity has arisen earlier than I expected. But, my background in health meant that leading the strategic health authority was too good an opportunity to pass up. I look forward to supporting closer and better working between health and local government in York and across the region.' He added: ‘I have been privileged to work at York with great people who are determined to do their best for communities in the area.'

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WHITEHALL

York chief moves to head up health region

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