THE Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has appointed a new chairman.

Dr Caroline Dollery, who has worked as a GP at the Danbury Medical Centre for 18 years, has been appointed to the role having previously been the GP member for Governance on the CCG Board.

The group is responsible for care provision in Mid-Essex, which includes Chelmsford.

Dr Dollery takes over the role from Dr Bryan Spencer, who has been interim Chair of the CCG since May 2014.

She will take up the position of Chair of MECCG at the beginning of September and, subject to re-election, will serve a three-year term.

Dr Dollery, who also has a regional and national profile in relation to her work in mental health, said: “I am delighted to be in this new role and look forward to supporting our membership practices, members of the public and all partners in our community to rise to the challenge as the CCG and all partners set out their vision for future health services.

“The CCG has an important part to play in ensuring that people living in Braintree, Maldon and Chelmsford can look after their own health and wellbeing, as well as accessing quality health services where and when they need them.

“But we also have the task of trying to get back on track financially from a current deficit of just over £15 million.

“At the moment we are finalising transformational plans for health over the next five years and I am excited to have the opportunity to influence and lead this work.”