Suffolk and North East Essex ICB appoints interim chief medical officer

Suffolk and North East Essex ICB (SNEE ICB) has appointed Dr Frankie Swords as its chief medical director.

© Suffolk and North East Essex ICB

© Suffolk and North East Essex ICB

Dr Swords, a senior clinician with more than 25 years, has been chief medical director at the Norfolk and Waveney ICB since July 2022 – her substantive role that she will continue.

She is a former medical director at Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Foundation Trust and has also been a consultant physician, specialising in endocrinology, for more than 10 years. She continues to practice as consultant endocrinologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Swords said: ‘There is so much that our two systems can learn from each other and do together to improve people's health, wellbeing and care.'

Ed Garratt, interim chief executive at Norfolk and Waveney ICB and chief executive at SNEE ICB, said: ‘Frankie is an outstanding leader who commands the respect of the medical community locally and nationally.

‘She is an innovative and inspirational leader, and I am delighted to have a clinical leader as our first joint director appointment across our two organisations.'

Dr Swords will take up her new appointment within SNEE ICB with immediate effect.

Dr Andrew Kelso, the current medical director at SNEE ICB, is leaving to take up the chief medical officer role at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

ICB
ICB scales back intensive care unit services due to recruitment challenges

ICB scales back intensive care unit services due to recruitment challenges

By Lee Peart 16 July 2025

A temporary suspension of Level 3 care at Furness General Hospital’s (FGH) intensive care unit has been made permanent due to staff shortages.

Government unveils Life Sciences Sector Plan to 'transform' NHS

By Liz Wells 16 July 2025

The government has launched a new Life Sciences Sector Plan, which sets out a 10-year mission to harness British science and innovation to deliver a stronger...

Four key drivers behind youth mental health crisis identified

By Lee Peart 15 July 2025

Financial insecurity, deteriorating sleep quality, social media use and cuts to children's and youth services have been identified as the leading drivers in ...


Popular articles by Liz Wells