A SKIPTON GP has been appointed to lead the NHS body which will plan healthcare across the whole of Bradford, Wharfedale and Craven.

Dr James Thomas is currently clinical chairman for NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the body which plans and commissions healthcare services for the area. However, he has now been appointed as the chairman designate of a single CCG for the whole of the Bradford district and Craven.

Dr Thomas will take up his new role from April 1, 2020 when the new organisation will be officially formed. The single CCG for Bradford district and Craven, will replace the district’s three CCGs and follows a national requirement for all CCGs to reduce their administration costs by 20 per cent by March 31, 2020.

Dr Thomas is originally from London where he completed his initial medical training, before moving to Yorkshire and training as a GP in the Airedale area.

He practices as a GP at Fisher Medical Centre in Skipton where he also teaches medical students, young doctors and GPs.

He holds numerous leadership positions across the Bradford district and Craven area including being the clinical lead for the Elective Care Programme. Elective care is care that is planned as opposed to care in an emergency, this includes planned surgery and procedures.

Speaking of his appointment, Dr Thomas said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the clinical chair for our new CCG for Bradford district and Craven and look forward to taking up the role formally on 1 April 2020.

“My existing leadership roles throughout the local area and more widely across the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership revolve around strong partnership working, collaboration and engagement with our local communities and it has been a pleasure to see the development of community partnerships whilst in my current role.”

Community partnerships bring together people from organisations across Bradford district and Craven which includes local groups, voluntary organisations, charities, GP practices and local council teams.

Each of the 14 partnerships focuses on a community of between 30,000 and 60,000 people to understand how best to support the health and wellbeing of the people who live in their area.

Dr Thomas added: “We will retain our local focus once we become one CCG by working with the community partnerships to understand and meet people’s needs, no matter where they live and work across our districts.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to champion the work of our community partnerships so that we can make sure local people feel happy, healthy, at home across Bradford district and Craven.”