Patrick Vernon OBE Bids Farewell as NHS Birmingham and Solihull Chair

After more than a decade of leadership, Patrick Vernon OBE has stepped down as Chair of the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), leaving behind a legacy defined by tackling health inequalities, embedding social value, and confronting systemic discrimination in healthcare.

Appointed interim chair in 2013 and confirmed in the role a year later, Patrick made history as the first non-executive director appointed specifically to lead on health inequalities. Over his tenure, he consistently championed equity, ensuring that the voices of global majority communities and those with protected characteristics were heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

Among his proudest achievements was the inception of the Fairer Futures Fund, which channelled investment into community-led solutions to health inequalities. Working in partnership with the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector, the fund enabled new approaches to care that were rooted in local knowledge and lived experience.

Patrick also oversaw the launch of the Health Inequalities Strategy in 2023, identifying six system priorities to tackle poor life expectancy. His commitment to anti-racism was equally clear, with the Board developing 17 pledges in collaboration with the Birmingham Race Impact Group and signing up to a three-year challenge to diversify leadership and build an anti-racist healthcare system.

Reflecting on his time, Patrick said:
“My time at the ICB has been nothing short of amazing… I have been proud to see the strides we have made to bridge the gaps in health outcomes and experiences for patients and staff alike.”

Looking ahead, he welcomed his successor Danielle Oum, who takes over as chair of the newly merged NHS Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull ICB cluster. With the foundations already laid, Patrick expressed confidence that staff and communities will continue to benefit from this renewed vision of inclusive healthcare.

Patrick Vernon leaves his role not only with the gratitude of his colleagues but with a powerful legacy: one that places fairness, equality, and community partnership at the heart of the NHS.

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