Appointment of Abigail Harris as Interim Chief Commissioner for new NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) and interim arrangements at Cardiff and Vale UHB
We are delighted to announce that Abigail Harris has been appointed as the Interim Chief Commissioner for the new NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC) which will be established on the 1st April 2024 following the merger of the former Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC) the National Collaborative Commissioning Unit (NCCU) and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC).
Abi, currently the Executive Director of Strategy and Planning with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board brings a wide range of experience to this new role including time spent in commissioning organisations, local government, national policy and specialist services provision. Following an interview process, Abi impressed the panel with her focus on ensuring the new JCC commissions equitable and evidence-based services for the people of Wales as well as her ambition that the team working for the new committee are supported and engaged in developing the new Committee’s culture and values.
Abi will be joining the JCC on 4 April 2024 and will be responsible for leading the establishment of the newly formed organisation.
Abi said "I am delighted to be part of a new and exciting era for commissioning in Wales and leading the team, albeit it in an interim basis in supporting Health Boards in developing Regional and Inter-Health Board commissioning. The JCC will build on the work of the previous commissioning organisations and will help build commissioning capacity across the health system in Wales. I see this as a really exciting opportunity to bring the collective expertise of the staff from across three separate and distinct organisations in their own right, into a single cohesive commissioning organisation to benefit patients and the communities of Wales. It will be vital to build on the experience of colleagues from across all three organisations and I am very much looking forward to working alongside them."
We are currently in the process of finalising the details for the interim Executive Director of Strategy and Planning position during Abi's appointment and will be making a further announcement shortly.
We wish Abi well in this new and exciting appointment for Wales.
Suzanne Rankin
Chief Executive