23 November 2001
Dr Gillian Morgan, currently chief executive of North and East Devon Health Authority, will take up the post on February 1 next year. Her predecessor, Stephen Thornton, left earlier this month to become chief executive of health insurer PPP's Medical Healthcare Trust.
The Devon health authority was one of the first to develop locality commissioning, the inspiration behind Labour's replacement for fundholding and the internal market.
The appointment of a medical manager to head up the mouthpiece of NHS management reflects the shift in the balance of power towards doctors and the medically dominated primary care trusts under the current government.
Confederation chair Diane Jeffrey said: 'Fresh from the frontline, Gill brings strong, acknowledged leadership skills, vision and in-depth experience of the NHS. She is ideally placed to lead the confederation and develop the organisation as the NHS itself changes.'
PFnov2001
