South Yorkshire could get 'health commissioner' in bid to improve local services
South Yorkshire could be the first two areas in the country to pioneer the role.
Health officials have discussed the introduction of a health commissioner for South Yorkshire, one of the first two areas in the country to pioneer the role.
The job will be taken on by the replacement for Pearse Butler, who is stepping down from his role as chair of South Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). He chaired his final board meeting today (May 6) in Sheffield.
NHS South Yorkshire is one of two ICBs selected nationally to pioneer the role of health commissioner. The other is Greater Manchester.
New ICB chief executive Chris Edwards told the meeting that the commissioner will work closely with South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard.
The decision forms part of the ongoing devolution of powers to English regions that have elected mayors. Mayor Coppard took on the role of police and crime commissioner following his re-election in 2024 and he also oversees South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.
A report by Mr Edwards said: “The change will put democratically-elected mayors at the heart of local health services and the trial is a first of its kind to shift local decision-making out of central government into regions, part of the Government’s landmark 10 Year Plan for Health and Devolution Bill.
“It is envisaged that communities in South Yorkshire will benefit from a greater focus on preventative healthcare.”
Early interventions will aim to both improve people’s health and save the NHS money.
Mayor Coppard has already welcomed the change and said that it aligns
with his commitment to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.
The decision follows other major government-ordered changes to the NHS. Health minister Wes Streeting last year announced that NHS England would be merged into the Department of Health and Social Care.
ICB budgets were cut by around half and 340 jobs are going in South Yorkshire as a result.
ICBs are responsible for planning health services for their local population. They manage budgets and work with local providers of NHS services, such as hospitals and GP practices.
The meeting today discussed a three-year plan to restructure how services will be run following the changes.
A report from Emma Latimer, executive place director for Sheffield, said that ICBs are now “strategic stewards of the system, responsible for shaping how care is utilised. improving productivity and enabling better outcomes”.
She said that staff, who are undergoing extensive restructuring following the job losses currently taking place, will be key to future success.
Ms Latimer added: “Are we all rowing in the same direction? We’ve got to be with the financial difficulties we face.”
The ICB had to cut its 2025-26 budget by £48.9m. It is on course to deliver a balnced budget for 2026-27, Mr Edwards said.
NHS South Yorkshire has also been selected to host one of 27 new neighbourhood health centres nationwide with a share of £50m of government funding that aims to bring care closer to home.
The local venue will be at the Stone Castle Centre in Conisbrough.
The centres will give patients access to a wider range of NHS services such as urgent care, GP and pharmacy services under one roof and on their doorstep.
Over time, the plan is to bring together wider support such as debt, employment and family advice to help address the root causes of poor health such as deprivation.
A pioneering health hub based at the Alhambra Shopping Centre in Barnsley has already been hailed as a big success.