The chief executive of NHS West Yorkshire integrated care board (ICB) has announced that he will be stepping down from his role in 2026.
Rob Webster CBE, who is currently chief executive of the ICB and lead chief executive at West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, will leave the health service after more than 35 years of national and local roles in health and care.
In a letter addressed to his colleagues, Mr Webster said: ‘it is time for me to take a break and concentrate on my life outside the NHS’.
He continued: ‘I am deeply grateful for the support of my Executive colleagues, all staff and partners across the NHS, local government, the third sector and all of our communities in West Yorkshire.
‘It has been an absolute privilege to work with everyone and many of you since May 2016 when our Partnership began to take shape.’
‘We have worked through continuous financial distress; a global pandemic; industrial action; racial and social inequity and major organisational change without ever losing sight of why we are here – to improve outcomes for the people we serve.’
Looking forward, he added: ‘I know the new ICB will develop and adapt to become an extremely important part of the future emerging health and care landscape, building on firm foundations we have created, together.’
A new chair will be appointed in January and Mr Webster will work with the appointee and NHS England colleagues to arrange the right time for his departure.
Mr Webster was thanked for his ‘exemplary leadership’ in a statement on behalf of Professor Nadira Mirza, acting chair of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and acting deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
The statement added: ‘Whilst the months ahead will be a very challenging time for the ICB, the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and indeed the wider NHS, we must continue to work with the Board, wider partners, local communities and staff across West Yorkshire to respond to and deliver the 10 Year Health Plan, using the rich and diverse insight we have about our patients and communities across West Yorkshire.’
