New chief exec for Health Innovation North West Coast

Health Innovation North West Coast has appointed Dr Phil Jennings as chief executive, four years after he joined the organisation as medical director, later becoming deputy chief executive.

Phil takes charge as the Innovation Agency continues to flex in response to the needs of health and care partners facing pandemic pressures in the North West Coast.

Programmes of work are focussed on meeting urgent needs, such as implementing ‘virtual wards’ using remote monitoring and digital tools in patients’ homes, care homes and other community settings.

Health Innovation North West Coast’s Coaching Academy is supporting collaborations and learning initiatives, such as ‘Doing things differently’ for leaders from different sectors in Cheshire and Merseyside as they develop a more joined-up approach to improving the health and wellbeing of the population.

And local businesses are being supported to introduce their innovations into the NHS and social care where there is potential to improve services.

Dr Phil Jennings said: “It is a great privilege to work at the Innovation Agency where we are in a position to help our partners in health and care and to support the local economy through connecting innovations where they are most needed.

“We have a fantastic team and we are working harder than ever to align the best innovations and approaches to the needs of our local systems.”

Phil, who is a practising GP, played a leading role in establishing NHS Wirral CCG in 2012 and became clinical chair of the CCG.  

He moved to NHS England/Improvement North West as deputy medical director, before joining the Innovation Agency in 2016 under the leadership of former chief executive Dr Liz Mear, who has moved to become managing director of Leeds Academic Health Partnership.

Phil lives in Wirral with his GP wife Vicki, three daughters and a chocolate Labrador dog.

Innovation Agency Chair Gideon Ben-Tovim OBE said: “Many congratulations to Phil, who I know will provide wise leadership for our organisation and for our region at a critical time for health and care and our local economy.”