Meet Oldham's new 'leader for health and care'

A new leader responsible for the integration of health and care in Oldham has been appointed.

Known as a ‘place-based lead for health and care integration’, Mike Barker will head up a newly-formed Integrated Care Partnership in the borough as part of national changes to the way the NHS and local councils support people’s health and social care.

Mr Barker, Accountable Officer for NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, is one of 10 place-based leads appointed in Greater Manchester as the city region moves towards a fully integrated NHS and social care system from July 1, 2022.

As part of the Health and Care Act 2022, a new statutory NHS organisation is being formed – NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care – at the heart of a wider Integrated Care Partnership involving all the different organisations that support the health and social care of residents across our region.

As part of these arrangements, there will be Integrated Care Partnerships in each of the 10 boroughs, also made up of NHS organisations, the council, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) colleagues and other key partners.

Each partnership will work with the public in their local area, and with the wider system across Greater Manchester, to enable healthier lives and plan and deliver better health and social care services for all.

Mark Fisher, Chief Executive designate of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, who will take up his role officially on July 1, said: “This is an exciting new era for Greater Manchester and I’m proud to be a part of it.

"I’d like to welcome the new place-based leads and am looking forward to working with them as they come into post.

“We are all building on a strong history of partnership working, most notably after the devolution of health and social care in 2016, and our priorities to tackle health inequalities and deliver high quality NHS and social care services will remain and be amplified.

"Our partnerships at a local level will help us to collaborate more closely than ever before and improve the health and wellbeing of all.”

Mr Barker added: “I am excited to have been appointed as the Place Lead for Oldham.

"I have worked in Oldham for almost four years now and it remains my focus to make sure we do everything we can to improve the health of the people of Oldham and significantly focus on tackling health inequalities.

“It is paramount that the needs of our diverse communities in Oldham continue to be met while linking in with the wider partnership, enabling us to build on ground-breaking ways we have been working over the last five years.”

Place-based leads in each locality will be accountable to both the Integrated Care Board Chief Executive and the relevant local authority via the Locality Board and will oversee delegated resources from NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “It’s great to be able to announce that Mike Barker will be Oldham’s Place Based Lead.

“I know that Mike will be determined to provide the best service possible for Oldham residents and will work well, alongside his team, with the council and other local services to lead the way towards an even better-connected health and care system in the borough.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact the changes being made will have on all ten localities and in Oldham especially.”

The Locality Board, made up of people from the local authority, the NHS, the voluntary sector and wider partners reflective of each place, will drive local Integrated Care Partnerships at neighbourhood and district level.

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