Dr Tony Naughton to retire from NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG

The leader of the NHS organisation responsible for planning and buying services for people living in Fylde and Wyre has announced his retirement.

Dr Tony Naughton, clinical chief officer at NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), will step down from his role on 31 August 2018.

The leader of the CCG since its formation in April 2013, Dr Naughton, 61, said he felt the time was right to move on.

He said: “As the NHS moves towards more integrated care, which will take some time to complete, it seems sensible that it is overseen by people who will still be in the system in several years’ time.

“Although I am sad to go I leave the CCG with a feeling of immense pride as over the past five years we have achieved so much.”

Dr Naughton has overseen the CCG receive an ‘outstanding’ rating from NHS England, which resulted in a letter of commendation from then health secretary Jeremy Hunt, and a runner-up award in the annual Health Service Journal CCG of the Year Awards.

The CCG is also unique in having taken part in three national pilots – the Fylde Coast Vanguard, Lancashire Test Bed and the Healthy New Town – with aspects of these being rolled out across the country over the next few years.

Dr Naughton said: “We also recently broke a Guinness World Record for exercise and are doing lots to promote fitness and healthy living to people across the Fylde Coast.”

Dr Naughton will continue in his role as a family doctor at The Thornton Practice two days a week.

He added: “We have a fantastic team at the CCG who I will miss working with very much, but I am confident the best of what we have achieved will be carried on into the future.”

CCG chair Mary Dowling said: “While we are very sorry to be losing Tony, we thank him for his enormous contribution to the CCG.

“His leadership and tireless commitment has been instrumental in putting the organisation on a national and international stage for excellence and innovation.”

Dr Amanda Doyle, accountable officer of NHS Blackpool CCG, will also undertake the accountable officer role for NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG on an interim basis until the permanent arrangement is confirmed in the near future.