The leadership arrangements for commissioning support services in Lancashire and Cumbria have been finalised.

Derek Kitchen, currently Managing Director of Staffordshire CSU, has been appointed Managing Director of Lancashire CSU and will lead the two separate organisations.

Cumbria CCG is to source its commissioning support services from North East CSU, whose Managing Director is Stephen Childs.

These arrangements will enable commissioning support services in both areas to further develop and improve their service offers and maximise new opportunities for the benefit of customers.

The changes have been designed to ensure maximum stability, support and continuity for CCGs as they continue to prepare for and progress through authorisation, while at the same time ensuring CSUs are as good as they possibly can be by April 2013.