Who represents members on the Federation?
As a companion blog to the previous one, it might be helpful for members to know how they are represented and the affiliations of directors.
Name Fed role Affiliation
Dr Deb Banerjee Director Ipswich Primary Care
Dr Andrea Clarke Director Ipswich Primary Care
Dr Paul Driscoll Chair Suffolk Primary Care
Dr Crispin Dunn Director Bury collaboration
Dr John Lynch Director Considering Suffolk Primary Care
Marilyn Martin Director Independent
David Pannell CEO Independent, working with Ipswich & Suffolk Primary Care non-exec
Dr Matt Piccaver Director None
Dr Nick Rayner Executive Director Suffolk Primary Care
Dr Simon Rudland Director Suffolk Primary Care
Jane Wallace Director Deben Health Group
Dr David Ward Director Considering Suffolk Primary Care
Salaried post Co-opted Vacant
Forest Health/Mildenhall Vacant
West PM Vacant
How is the Board elected?
The Federation Members Agreement Clinicians sets out the composition of the Board and how they are elected. GPs have to be the majority on the board.
GPs are elected on a locality basis. The six electoral areas are Bury/Blackbourne, CIA (Felixstowe and Aldeburgh, Saxmundham and Leiston), Deben Health Group (practices around Woodbridge), Forest Heath, Mildenhall, Haverhill and Sudbury, Ipswich and Brett Stour (practices around Stowmarket).
We also currently have three non-elected board members. Marilyn Martin, an ex-senior partner at BDO who brings financial expertise, a salaried post (currently vacant) and David Pannell our Chief Executive.
GP and practice manager Board members stand for re-election every three years in a democratic process involving all members. Candidates from a locality nominate themselves but the electorate is all partners, salaried GPs and locums from member practices in the Federation.
Our most recent election was of Dr John Lynch for the Deben Health Group area. This was the closest election we have had so far and had the highest turnout. I do encourage members to get involved with the voting process. The next round will be in the New Year.
Our representation challenge
Clearly how we elect our Board does throw up some challenges. The most obvious one is the new collaborative grouping of Coast & Country is not represented. At our July meeting, the Board considered changing from localities to collaborative groupings (Coast & Country, DHG, SPC etc). However, in rapidly changing times it is uncertain how that landscape will look going forward and so the decision was made to continue representation as it stands for the time being.
If we did make changes it would require 70% members’ approval by shareholding. This is quite a challenge – even getting the Members’ Agreement approved took 18 months and so we need to be sure any new approach has longevity.
Paul
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