Dr Peter Parry Okeden, Chair of the Board
Peter has been a GP for over 20 years, working as a Partner at Pemberley Surgery in Bedford, a position he still holds. He was lead Fundholding Partner for his practice, and was involved in setting up and chairing the local Fundholding User Group. He has also been involved in other local groups including the Young Practitioners Group, The Medical Audit Group and a local GP Computing User Group.
Peter was Chairman of Bedford Primary Care Group, and then Chairman of the Professional Executive Committee (PEC) of Bedford Primary Care Trust (PCT) until September 2006. This role involved close working with the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Trust, and has been a very useful experience in developing skills appropriate for Practice Based Commissioning.
Peter was elected as Chairman of Horizon Health Commissioning and Horizon Health Choices in May 2007.
Mrs Deb Williams, Management Executive
Deb has a wide experience and knowledge in NHS management encompassing both secondary and primary care across England. This has included commissioning and service developments. She has project managed the development of two new practices, one in Buckinghamshire and one in Bedfordshire, which included the setting up of services and the building of temporary and permanent accommodation.
In the commercial sector Deb has undertaken computer consultancy work and during the past year has worked with a number of companies concerning strategic development.
Currently Deb is the Business Manager of The Village Medical Centre and feels that practice based commissioning is an opportunity for GPs to shape the future of primary care services for the benefit of patients.
Mrs Jen Gough, Management Executive
Throughout her career, Jen has gained extensive business experience. Jen draws from this experience in the field of primary care management. Most of the 16 years spent in this field have been focussed upon leading the management team of the Queens Park Health Centre in Bedford. Jen has previously held the pivotal role of fund holding manager.
Jen was able to utilise her significant expertise in the commissioning of patient services in her former role as Associate Director for Primary Care Commissioning at Luton teaching Primary Care Trust. Heading the primary care commissioning team gave Jen the opportunity to widen her experience through leading the negotiation and implementation of new contracts for GPs and Dentists while leading significant capital development projects. Jen is currently Practice and Business Manager at Queens Park Medical Centre.
Dr Lindsay McKenzie, Clinical Executive
Lindsay is the founder of Horizon Health and is the General Practitioner lead for the development of The Healthy Living Centre at Wootton. As a mature student she attained a degree in combined sciences from Luton University and from this embarked upon her medical career, completing her training as a GP in Milton Keynes and becoming a principal in a large practice. She already had a successful first career in business management. Alongside her clinical skills Lindsay offers expertise in marketing, finance and customer care from her experience in working in a number of international companies.
As an innovator she has focused on the development of the multidisciplinary team approach to general practice, using new ways of working, and pioneered the introduction of the physician assistant role in the UK. She has been instrumental in the formation of the UK Association of Physician Assistants, speaking at conferences and writing articles on the subject.
Lindsay is an enthusiastic educator, supporting the training and development of nurses and Clinical Support Workers and acting as a Designated Medical Practitioner for independent prescribing for a number of Universities. She became an examiner and trainer for specialist grade and GP registrars for the diploma of faculty of family planning and advanced skills in 2006. She has remained active in the family planning service as lead for the service at Milton Keynes.
She is passionate that General Practitioners, Consultants and clinical colleagues are empowered to lead and design the delivery of health care.
Dr Frances Ross, Clinical Executive
Dr Frances Ross is a passionate GP in north Bedfordshire and founding partner of Harrold Medical Practices. A GP in excess of 20 years, as well as being an Executive Director of Horizon Health Choices Limited Frances also leads the practice based commissioning group on the urgent care agenda and is an Executive Director of Bedoc (Bedford on Call) the north Bedfordshire GP out-of-hours provider.
