NHS Bury’s Chair announced

Date published: 20 July 2010

Former Manchester Evening News Editor and business man, Paul Horrocks, has been appointed as Chair of NHS Bury by the Appointments Commission.

Mr Horrocks will commence the role from 1st August 2010 as Interim Chair, Kathy Reade, resumes her Chairmanship of NHS East Lancashire after a six month stint in the post.

Mr Horrocks left the Manchester Evening News in 2009, having been the Editor since 1997. He joined the Manchester Evening News in 1975 as a general news reporter from the Daily Mail, he is the former President of the UK Society of Editors, and was a member of the Press Complaints Commission for four years.

Mr Horrocks’ community interests include membership of the fund raising board for the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Our Life which promotes health and well being in the North West, Directorship of Midas (a not-for-profit organisation that provides free help and advice to companies who are relocating to Manchester) and Directorship of Tatton Park Trust. He is also the Director of a Media and Communications Consultancy, Essential Communications, and an Independent Governor of the University of Bolton.

Born and bred in Bury, Paul Horrocks and his four grown up children all live and work in the borough.

On speaking of his new role, he said: "I am privileged to be able to be lead the National Health Service in Bury at such a critical time for public services. We are faced with an unprecedented challenge to continue to develop the quality and responsiveness of local services, whilst meeting the need to release efficiencies. The government’s recent White Paper provides opportunities for us to delegate real power to the clinicians who are the closest to local people - GPs. Notwithstanding that there are still some significant arrangements to be finalised nationally and locally, we will be ensuring that changes to the NHS system realise local benefits for the people of Bury. I will use the breadth of knowledge gained during my career and wider roles to challenge tradition and truly engage the population we serve.”

Chief Executive, John Boyington CBE spoke of Mr Horrocks’ appointment: “The Board and I are delighted that we have been able to attract someone of Paul’s calibre to this exceptional role. As a high profile local figure with a wealth of local knowledge and business acumen, I have no doubt that under Paul’s leadership the Board will be able to take the local NHS towards the model of care that is fit for the future. Kathy Reade, as Interim Chair, has set us in good stead for this transformation over the last six months and the Board and I thank her for her hard work and wish her well.”

Sir David Henshaw, Chair of NHS North West, added: “I am pleased that Paul has been appointed. He brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to the role of Chairman for the PCT. This is an important time for the NHS and I know that he will work to build on previous achievements to ensure that high quality services continue to be commissioned and delivered.”

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice. All non-executive appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Mr Horrocks has declared no political activity and holds no other ministerial appointments. He will serve a four year term from 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2014 and will receive a remuneration of £34,152 per annum.