Rochdale appoints new director for health and care

Nichola Thompson, Rochdale Borough Council’s new director for health and care, and the deputy place lead for the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Integrated Care Partnership

Nichola Thompson has been appointed as Rochdale Borough Council’s new director for health and care and will take up position in March.

Nichola will also lead the council’s integrated commissioning directorate, working across the borough’s health and care system as deputy place lead for the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Integrated Care Partnership, which replaced the CCG (clinical commissioning group) last summer.

Her new role will include the delivery of adult care and health care commissioning, which includes GP and hospital services.

Nichola is currently working in a joint role at Cheshire East Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. She will take up her post at Rochdale in March, replacing Claire Richardson who has taken up a new position as director of health and care integration at Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Nichola said: “I'm really looking forward to joining Rochdale and building on all of the great work that I have read and heard so much about. My focus will be to drive forward the integration of health and care services, building on the successful partnership approach and ensuring the delivery of top class, joined up services that improve residents’ lives and reduce health inequalities.”

Councillor Daalat Ali, the council’s cabinet member for health, said: “Nichola has a wealth of experience across the health and social care sector, with a proven track record in delivering innovative health and care services. She is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of residents in our borough. It’s an exciting time for Nichola to be joining us, as we develop our integrated neighbourhood teams and move towards even stronger health and care partnership working."

Sarah Price, chief officer for health inequalities and population health and deputy chief executive for NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, said: “We look forward to welcoming Nichola to Greater Manchester and the wealth of experience she brings with her, and am sure she will play a key role in Rochdale’s health integration journey.”