NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has appointed an interim accountable officer.

Mike Barker will be in place on a fixed-term basis until March 31, 2022, after which point the CCG will transition into the new Greater Manchester Integrated Care System organisation as part of the national NHS reforms to commissioning.

Mr Barker replaces Dr Carolyn Wilkins OBE who stepping down from the accountable officer role in July as well as the chief executive position of Oldham Council.

Mr Barker is currently the CCG’s chief operating officer and is also a strategic director at Oldham Council.

He said: “The NHS nationally is entering into one of its most demanding periods as we recover from Covid while also enacting major organisational changes as we transition into integrated care systems.

“It is an absolute privilege to be appointed to this role at such a challenging time.

“I was delighted to join the Oldham team three years ago, and during that period we have already achieved many things.

Mr Barker added: “I now look forward to continuing that work leading the organisation and health system in ensuring that Oldham’s reputation for population health improvement remains strong within Greater Manchester and nationally.”