Kate Shields reflects on her time as Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ahead of step down as new ICB cluster arrangements begin
Kate Shields, Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), has announced she will step down from her role on Tuesday 30 September, as the ICB begins its next phase of integration with NHS Devon.
Kate confirmed that she has chosen not to apply for the Chief Executive position of the new Cornwall, Isles of Scilly and Devon cluster ICB.
Kate Shields said:
“I have made the personal decision not to apply for the role of Chief Executive of the new NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and Devon cluster, and will therefore step down from my post on Tuesday 30 September.
Looking back over her three years in the role, she highlighted the achievements made with colleagues and partners, from bringing care closer to communities to pioneering innovative services that support local people.
Kate said: “It has been the greatest privilege of my career to serve as Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly since its launch in July 2022. Looking back over the past three years, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. With our partners, we have built services that are more community-focused, collaborative and responsive to local needs — from establishing neighbourhood teams and community diagnostic centres, to developing new urgent care and mental health services, and bringing mobile support directly into communities.
“I am particularly proud of the development of our integrated neighbourhood teams and am delighted that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has been selected as one of the first areas across the country to join the
“Department of Health and Social Care’s National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. The partnership working led through our primary care teams, supported by the GP collaborative, with Cornwall Partnership Trust and Cornwall Council devolving their teams into local leadership arrangements is magical. A great sign of future collective working.
“I am deeply grateful to our staff, partners and the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for their support, dedication and commitment. I know this progress will continue to grow under the leadership of the new cluster arrangements, and I wish everyone across the system every success for the future.”
John Govett, Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, said:
“Since our launch as an ICB in July 2022 — in the wake of the most challenging period in the NHS’s history — Kate and I have worked side by side with our team and partners to shape services that truly reflect the needs of our local communities.
“Together, we have achieved a huge amount: Kate has brought creativity and innovation to her role — being brave enough to challenge the status quo and try new approaches, then supporting rolling them out at scale. From introducing Cornwall’s Community Health and Wellbeing Workers, to pioneering the delivery of more care closer to home — with our successful mobile X-ray service a great example — her leadership has transformed how we support people where it matters most.
“Kate’s passion and commitment have been at the heart of this progress. She has led with compassion, listened to thousands of local voices, and always put people first. None of this would have been possible without her vision and drive, and I want to thank her personally for the dedication and resilience she has shown throughout her time as Chief Executive. She leaves behind a legacy to be proud of.”
As part of the new cluster arrangements, John Govett, current Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, started earlier this month (1 September) as Chair of the combined NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon cluster ICB.
Confirmation of the new Chief Executive role for the cluster ICB will be announced in due course.
For more information: ICB Cluster – NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly