Yorkshire-based watchdog to oversee £700m health reform

Tuesday 08 February 2022

A Yorkshire-based specialist in digital transformation and “major” change programmes has been appointed to oversee a £700m shake-up to Jersey’s health service - 14 months after the reform was approved.

Mike Greenwood will chair the Independent Oversight Board, which will report to the Health Minister as well as the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel on the progress of the Jersey Care Model (JCM).

The five-year programme aims to improve health and social care in the island. While getting it in place will cost £679m by 2036, the Health Department has said it expects that the reform will result in savings of £874m by 2036.

Ahead of the key vote on the JCM, the politicians tasked with reviewing the proposals - which they slammed as having “insufficient pace and rigour” - recommended the creation of the Oversight Board to hold executives to account for the delivery of the JCM.

They said the group should produce monthly progress reports, and publish a detailed analysis of progress against targets set for the first phase of the JCM's delivery at the end of 2021.

However, 10 months after the reform had been approved it emerged that no appointment had been made.

Recruitment only started in September 2021, after £6.6m had been spent on the reform. 

Pictured: The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel wants monthly progress reports on the Jersey Care Model.

While the recruitment post was shared on the NHS website on 1 September, it wasn't shared on the Government's own local jobs site, nor does it appear to have been directly advertised elsewhere in the island. The closing date is listed for just under three weeks later, on Tuesday 21 September.

Mr Greenwood was eventually appointed in December 2021 and is currently in the process of appointing two non-executive members to sit with him on the board, which is expected to meet for the first time in March.

He will also soon be meeting the Health and Social Security Scrutiny to discuss his approach to reviewing the programme. 

In a press release announcing Mr Greenwood’s appointment last week, the Government said he had 35 years’ experience delivering major change programmes within the public sector - including in healthcare - and the private sector.

Mr Greenwood started his career as an Information Officer in Sheffield Health Authority Community Services and then as District Information Officer in North Derbyshire Health Authority, where he implemented a wide range of information systems.  

Following this, he spent 10 years at KPMG, consulting to NHS organisations on information and business strategy and implementing clinical, financial, and commissioning systems at trusts such as St. James University Teaching Hospital Leeds, Bassetlaw Health Authority, Dewsbury Healthcare NHS Trust.

Based in Yorkshire, he was more recently Vice President of Oracle Consulting UK/Ireland, working with customers such as UBS and BT. 

“I’m really excited and proud to be able to help bring into fruition the vision for the Jersey Care Model, a programme which will ensure that healthcare is person-centred for islanders,” Mr Greenwood said.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed James Le Feuvre, the former CEO of Mind Jersey, to chair the Jersey Health and Care Partnership Group.

Described as a forum to “support the development and implementation of the Care Model and other service improvements”, the Group will include representatives from across a range of health and social care providers including care organisations, charities, primary care, pharmacy and community nursing.

Pictured: James Le Feuvre was previously the CEO for Mind Jersey.

The group, which will meet quarterly and for the first time in March 2022, will aim to increase collaboration between stakeholders to promote greater coordination in the planning and provision of services. 

Mr Le Feuvre, who has more than 30 years’ experience within health and social care services across a range of senior roles in both the public and voluntary sectors, is in the process of selecting members to sit on the group.

“I am delighted to be offered this opportunity to support the progressive development of improved health and wellbeing of all islanders,” he said. “Effective partnership working will be crucial as the Jersey Care Model is refined and implemented." 

Mr Greenwood and Mr Le Feuvre were appointed following an “open and competitive recruitment process” by the Jersey Appointments Commission, the Government said.

An annual budget of £65,000 has been allocated to fund the boards and both chairs will be remunerated for their services. 

It was previously announced the Board’s chair would be paid £20,000 a year for a minimum of two-and-a-half days’ work per month – whilst the Non-Executive Directors would receive £10,000 per year in return for one-and-a-half days per month of their time.

“The creation of these boards and the appointment of their high-calibre chairs marks an important milestone for the Jersey Care Model,” Deputy Richard Renouf, Minister for Health and Social Services, said. “I wish Mr Le Feuvre and Mr Greenwood every success in their roles and look forward to hearing their boards’ insights in shaping this essential improvement programme.” 

The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, also welcomed the appointments. “The Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel undertook an intense and detailed review of the plans for a Jersey Care Model (JCM) ahead of the States Assembly debate in 2020 and, as part of this, highlighted our concerns relating to the governance in place for the delivery of the JCM,' Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, the Panel's Chair, said.

“The Assembly agreed that it was critical to have independent oversight of the process, to ensure trust and transparency for the public. The Panel therefore welcomes the appointment of Mike Greenwood as chair of the Independent Oversight Board and we look forward to the new Board reporting to us, as a matter of urgency, going forward. 

“The Panel is also pleased to learn that James Le Feuvre, has been appointed as chair of the Health and Care Partnership Group and we look forward to hearing about their work in the future.”