Health and Care leaders from Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire’s (BSW) Sustainability and Transformation Partnership have appointed a new Independent Chair.

Stephanie Elsy, a Non-Executive Director at Solent Community and Mental Health Trust and former Leader of Southwark Council in London, joined the B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) from 9th December.

She will provide independent leadership and work to oversee the ongoing improvement and integration of health and care services across the region.

She will also help to deliver the ambitions set out in B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire’s Five Year Plan – in early 2020, and provide support to the partnership as it develops into an Integrated Care System (ICS) by April 2021.

Integrated Care Systems are NHS organisations working in partnership with local Councils and others to take collective responsibility for managing resources, delivering NHS standards and improving the health of the population they serve.

Stephanie Elsy said: “Our local health and care system is under considerable pressure, and it is now more important than ever before that we work in a seamlessly integrated manner to improve service quality, improve the health and wellbeing of our local population and deliver financial stability.”

Stephanie was a CEO in the charity sector for fifteen years, managing community and residential services for people recovering from substance misuse, people with disabilities and people living with HIV and AIDS.