​New joint chief officer of the council and CCG appointed

Mike Woodhead has been appointed as joint chief finance officer for Bury Council and NHS Bury CCG.

He has worked in the NHS and public sector since 1986, and was chief finance officer at the CCG before taking up this joint role.

Geoff Little, chief executive of Bury Council and accountable officer of NHS Bury CCG, said: “Mike brings a significant amount of experience and expertise to this joint role, one of very few of its type in the country so far. He will provide a single point of financial leadership for the delivery of balanced budgets for both the council and the CCG, contributing to the financial integrity of both organisations through an effective and responsive financial management service.

“His appointment is an important step in creating our One Commissioning Organisation and corporate core by creating the right environment to plan care and make decisions together to improve services, meet people’s needs, improve health outcomes and reduce the inequalities in healthy life expectancy within Bury and between Bury and national levels.”

Aged 51, Mike is originally from Sale but now lives in Rossendale.

He said: “The budget continues to be a major focus for us, given the need for the council and the CCG to jointly save £25 million by March 2020.

“During these challenging times, my goal is to strengthen our financial footing as we navigate the complexities of integrated health and social care and the wider transformation and reform agenda. A strong financial position, underpinned by a single coherent financial plan, is one of the foundations to delivering improved and sustainable services and outcomes to local people.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 17 June 2019.

Picture: Mike Woodhead.