New NHS HMR Chief Executive now in post

NHS HMR Chairman John Pierce welcomes new Chief Executive, Dr Julie Higgins

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale’s new Chief Executive, Dr Julie Higgins, has started working in her post this week.

Dr Higgins joins NHS HMR after 10 years working in Salford, spending the past eight years at NHS Salford where she became Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Health.

Whilst at Salford, Dr Higgins established strong partnership boards to tackle health inequalities by jointly providing health and social support for patients. Dr Higgins was also Vice Chair for the Greater Manchester Directors of Public Health.

This experience of working partnerships is something Dr Higgins is keen to bring to the borough. “I know that NHS HMR has some excellent partnerships with Rochdale Borough Council and other agencies but I believe that we can work even more closely to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and deliver services that meet their needs,” she said.

Dr Higgins, originally from Oldham and now living in Stockport, also has plans to improve primary care services, tackle long term conditions and reduce ill health. “So that we can improve the health of the population we need to make sure that effective services are in place to help prevent people from becoming ill in the first place,” said Dr Higgins.

“We also need to help people to manage their long term conditions, such as COPD and diabetes, so that they can stay well for as long as possible and only go to hospital when absolutely necessary.”

Over the next couple of months Dr Higgins will focus on getting to know staff, partners, the borough and the people in it. “Before I can start to make a difference, I need to have a clear idea of what does and doesn’t work by talking to staff and partners and learning what patients have to say.

“Change will not happen overnight but I am really looking forward to working here in the borough and stepping up to the challenge and seeing what new opportunities I can bring.”

John Pierce, Chairman at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, added: “We are delighted to welcome Julie as our new Chief Executive. I have every confidence that she will bring her vast experience to take on the health issues in the borough.”

Dr Higgins replaces former Chief Executive Trevor Purt who left the organisation in September to join NHS Wales.