GP elected to chair health governing body

Dr Alvin Low was elected to the role by fellow GPs from the 55 member practices in Bedfordshire.

The appointment of a clinician as chair supports the involvement of family doctors and other clinicians in buying and planning local health services for residents across the county.

Dr Low takes over the role from Steve Hone who held the position for the past year, and will assume full responsibility from Friday, April 15, to serve a three-year term.

Dr Low trained at the Royal Free Hospital, London and as a GP with the Lister Hospital in Stevenage, and has been a full time GP partner at Biggleswade Health Centre since 2000.

He has a Diploma in Geriatric Medicine and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). He has also held the role of clinical chair of Ivel Valley Locality for the past three years.

BCCG’s accountable officer Matthew Tait said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Alvin Low, a highly respected local GP as our new clinical chair. Alvin brings valuable clinical experience and a firm commitment to patients and I look forward to working with him in his new role. This marks a new chapter for the CCG and puts clinical leadership at the heart of our decision making.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our lay chair, Steve Hone, for support, leadership and professionalism he has brought to the CCG over the past year.”

Dr Low said: “I look forward to working with our governing body and local organisations at an exciting time when the CCG will commission general practice in partnership with NHS England. It has been my privilege to serve as chair of Ivel Valley locality, and I look forward to the opportunity to help lead our CCG through these changes.

“I understand the challenges facing primary care medicine from my daily work as a GP and hope to influence positive change through schemes such as our Primary Care Working Group to bring new GPs to Bedfordshire.”

The appointment of Dr Low brings the CCG into line with NHS Regulations which require CCGs to have an elected clinical chair where there is an appointed non-clinical accountable officer in post.