Colleagues from health and social care organisations across the North West bid farewell to the NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) clinical chair, Dr John Caine, who'll complete his term as clinical chair on 31 March.

Dr Caine has been a GP for over 30 years and chair at the CCG since its formation in 2011, and as chair, has played an integral role in decision-making for the planning and buying of healthcare for the local population.

He led locally on some key work to develop and integrate services to support patients who are classed as frail, and was instrumental in setting up the West Lancashire Urgent Treatment Centre, GP out-of-hours service, Acute Visiting Service in the local area and he supported the first wave of community specialist paramedics.

Paul Kingan, deputy chief officer at NHS West Lancashire CCG said: “It has been a great privilege to work alongside John and he will be sadly missed. John has used his expertise and position to influence improvements to services and has always strived to deliver the best possible healthcare for the local population. On behalf of the Governing Body and the CCG staff, I would like to extend thanks and best wishes to John for the future.”

Following a voting process and a GP membership vote, Dr Peter Gregory was elected as the new chair for the NHS West Lancashire CCG and will commence his post on 1 April 2020. Dr Gregory qualified from Liverpool University in 2001 and has been a partner at Parkgate Surgery in Ormskirk since 2012. As a result of this appointment, Dr Gregory will step down from his clinical director role of Ormskirk and Aughton Primary Care Network and another clinical director will be appointed.

He added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Peter Gregory on his new role as chair. I’ve worked with Peter for several years and his extensive experience in healthcare and clinical leadership and passion for responsible commissioning makes him a real asset to our organisation.”

Finally, Dr John Caine said: “It’s been an honour to work alongside such a diligent and visionary CCG team. We have made great strides locally and worked hard to understand the challenges our local community faces and ensure our roles and decisions shape their lives for the better. I congratulate Peter on his new role, and I look forward to continuing to work as a GP locally, and support the CCG in other ways.”