Mel’s career in the NHS has been driven by her passion for collaboration, innovation, and delivering better health and care outcomes. Since joining Wakefield District in 2014, she has led transformative change, firmly establishing the district as a national leader in integrated care and partnership working.
Before her time in Wakefield District, Mel held both regional and national roles within NHS England. As part of the national Integrated Care Pioneer Programme, she worked with Islington and Barnsley to develop integrated care models, collaborating closely with the Local Government Association (LGA) to implement innovative solutions that improved health and care delivery. Earlier in her career, she was a member of NHS England’s Local Area Team for Darlington, Durham, and Teesside, where she played a role in shaping NHS services during a period of significant structural transition following the changes to Primary Care Trusts.
In Wakefield District, Mel has been instrumental in driving partnership-led initiatives that have earned the district national recognition. In 2014, Mel led Wakefield District’s bid to successfully join the national Integrated Care Pioneer Programme in the second phase of the programme. Notably, Wakefield became the only area in the country to be awarded and asked to nationally deliver two NHS Vanguard programmes - focusing on primary care and care homes. These groundbreaking initiatives brought together local organisations to deliver cutting-edge, person-centred care that has since served as a model for other regions.
Recent achievements in Wakefield District reflect the strength of its partnerships and collaborative approach to innovation. The district has earned the highest possible ratings from OFSTED and the CQC for its provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Other notable initiatives for the Partnership include the development of a Workforce Programme Management model that enhances workforce planning and collaboration across the local health and care system, and developing our Business Intelligence linked-data model to support our population health management approach in shaping services that respond to our population’s needs. These innovations have been made possible through the distributed leadership of the Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership and the generosity of system leaders who have driven these changes forward.
Mel continues to champion integrated, person-centred care and values the collective strength of Wakefield’s health and care system, which is rooted in trust, partnership, and a shared commitment to delivering the best outcomes for the people of Wakefield District.