New Board member for primary care and medical services appointed

Dr Smitesh Patel has been appointed to NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s Integrated Care Board in July as statutory Primary Care & Medical Services board member, covering general practice, pharmacy, optometry and dentistry sectors.  

Dr Patel brings a comprehensive clinical background across primary and secondary care. He is currently a GP at Oak Tree & Pensilva Surgery in South East Cornwall and recently became the Clinical Director for East Cornwall Primary Care Network. Dr Patel also provides remote consulting to support strategic and business development in other Primary Care Networks and sits on the Cornwall GP Collaborative Board. 

Dr Andy Sant is standing down from the role after his 2 year tenure. 

Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board John Govett said: “We welcome Dr Patel to the Board and the wealth of experience he brings to the role.  We also thank Dr Andy Sant for his support over the two years he served on the Board. We recognise that primary care and medical services, in their broadest sense, are the bedrock of our health services, and a strong voice representing this sector is therefore crucial in feeding into and influencing our board decisions.” 

Dr Smitesh Patel said: “I am delighted to be joining the ICB as statutory Primary Care & Medical Services board member and am looking forward to working closely with my fellow members to shape Cornwall and Isles of Scilly’s health services so that people can live longer, happier, healthier lives.” 

  The Board also reappoints 3 partner members who will each serve an additional term of 2 year. This includes: 

• Council and local authority partner member Ali Bulman, strategic director for care and wellbeing in Cornwall 
• Mental health partner member Debbie Richards, chief executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 
• NHS Provider partner member Steve Williamson, chief executive of Royal Cornwall hospitals NHS Trust