Strategic clinical leads appointed to lead on population health and integration

UCLH has jointly two clinical leads, Dr Melissa Heightman and Dr Dee Hora, to the post of strategic clinical director.

The role of strategic clinical director is a new and important one for UCLH to lead on our strategic integration and population health, and provide clinical leadership to new neighbourhood integrator arrangements in Camden and Islington.

Melissa Heightman is a consultant respiratory physician with an interest in integrated and neighbourhood-based models of care for long term conditions. She is clinical lead for the post-Covid and post-infection condition service, co-chair of the NCL respiratory network and is an associate professor with UCL Respiratory.

Dee Hora is a GP and clinical and care director for Camden at North Central London Integrated Care Board. She has held senior clinical leadership roles in NCL for outpatient transformation, acute commissioning, and elective care. She is the named GP for adult safeguarding in Camden and Islington, and a member of the London Clinical Senate Council.

UCLH is a key partner in new neighbourhood health services which will provide more joined-up care in our area between hospitals, GPs, community services, mental health services, local councils and the voluntary sector.

This new way of working is a key part of the NHS 10-year plan, which is clear that if the NHS is to remain sustainable more care should be delivered closer to people’s homes. The aim is to improve people’s access, experience and outcomes, by making sure that integrated care between health and care partners is the norm and not the exception.

Jo Moss, UCLH’s Director of Strategy, said:

“This is a hugely exciting appointment for UCLH which reflects a new way of working for the NHS. We are increasingly working more closely with health and care partners to deliver patient care in the right place and at the right time – in hospital, at home or in the community, and often virtually.” 

Alex Warner, Chair of Camden Health Partners (GP Federation) said:

“We welcome the appointment of two strong clinical leaders who bring different experiences and skills to the role. We look forward to working with Dee and Melissa to drive forward our neighbourhood health programme in Camden.”

The post has been generously funded for 12 months by UCLH Charity.

Find out more on our neighbourhood integration work at UCLH.