Dr Paul Zollinger CBE

Areas of Interest

Health Care, Education

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences, 2013

Biography

Dr Paul Zollinger-Read started as a GP in Braintree in 1991 after training first at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, then at Guys Hospital, London. In the mid 1990s he became interested in management and led the Fund Holding Consortium for Braintree, a town with a population of 55,000. His work focused on waiting lists, national patient access and the Modernisation Agency.

In 2002 he set up the Braintree Care Trust for adult social care, where he was Chief Executive, taking on neighbouring Chelmsford PCT. Then in 2006 he became Chief Executive of North East Essex PCT and in 2009 he took on the post of Chief Executive of Great Yarmouth PCT, continuing his joint GP and leadership role.

Paul became Chief Executive of NHS Cambridgeshire in Jan 2010 and also took on the role of Chief Executive of NHS Peterborough.

Paul was appointed the East of England Strategic Health Authority Director and was involved in the implementation of GP Commissioning following the publication of the NHS White Paper, 'Liberating the NHS'. Leading on authorization intervention and failure regimes for the Department of Health consortia work stream, he also became the Medical Director of the Kings Fund, a charitable fund which seeks to understand how the health system in England improved during 2011, a significant year for change in the NHS.

Paul became the Chief Medical Officer at Bupa in July 2012 and now has a global role ensuring quality and safety of services internationally

Citation

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Dr Paul Zollinger-Read CBE for the award of Honorary Doctor of Health Sciences.

Dr Paul Zollinger-Read's contribution to the development of medical education in the East of England spans over 25 years and he is regarded by the Department of Health and the NHS Executive as one of Britain's leading and most influential GPs.

Paul started as a GP in Braintree in 1991 after training first at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, then at Guys Hospital, London. In the mid 1990s he became interested in management and led the Fund Holding Consortium for Braintree, a town with a population of 55,000. His work focused on waiting lists, national patient access and the Modernisation Agency.

In 2002 he set up the Braintree Care Trust for adult social care, where he was Chief Executive, taking on neighbouring Chelmsford PCT who were then experiencing financial difficulties. Then in 2006 he became Chief Executive of North East Essex PCT and in 2009 he took on the post of Chief Executive of Great Yarmouth PCT, continuing his joint GP and leadership role.

Paul became Chief Executive of NHS Cambridgeshire in Jan 2010 and also took on the role of Chief Executive of NHS Peterborough

Paul was appointed the East of England Strategic Health Authority Director and was involved in the implementation of GP Commissioning following the publication of the NHS White Paper, 'Liberating the NHS'. Leading on authorization intervention and failure regimes for the Department of Health consortia work stream, he also became the Medical Director of the Kings Fund, a charitable fund which seeks to understand how the health system in England improved during 2011, a significant year for change in the NHS.

Paul became the Chief Medical Officer at Bupa in July 2012 and now has a global role ensuring quality and safety of services internationally

Paul is a clinician with extensive leadership experience at national, regional and local levels. His personal areas of interest are palliative care, patient safety, medical leadership and how to best develop health organizations.

Throughout his many roles he has been a great supporter to Anglia Ruskin University and its predecessor institutions. Most recently he has been giving his time as a member of the Postgraduate Medical Institute's project board, which provides clinical and academic expertise and resources for the global development of clinical and professional practice.

Paul's leadership style is passionate and inspirational and he has a deep understanding of patient's needs. He has the clarity and simplicity of vision required to deliver positive change and for his service to the NHS and to healthcare in the community we honour him with this special award.

Paul has two children, the eldest studying medicine at Bristol and the youngest off to university this year to read engineering. His interests include running and cycling and he ran the Zurich Marathon this year. Heidi his wife is Swiss and Paul's surname is a mix of Swiss Zollinger and English Read.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Dr Paul Zollinger-Read CBE for the award of Doctor of Health Sciences, honoris causa.