About me
Passionate About Healthcare
I have over a decade of experience working in the NHS, most recently as a Commissioning and Transformation Manager. During my career, I have taken great pride in evolving and adapting to meet the demands of the ever-changing NHS landscape.
I am now an Independent Healthcare Consultant providing freelance project management services.
About Me
Described by former colleagues as a ‘project management machine’, I am methodical, meticulous and driven.
My strengths are:
- Assembling a project team with the critical skills and expertise to ensure that projects are well-balanced and resilient.
- Development of robust and thorough project documentation to support successful and timely delivery.
- Assessing, identifying and mitigating risks and barriers to project completion.
- Creating clear communication and engagement materials to deliver messages with impact in the most effective way for the target audience.
Continuing professional development is a priority for me. As well as regular reading and learning to keep my skills and knowledge up to date and relevant, I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and I am currently studying a Master of Science degree in Systems Thinking in Practice.
My APPROACH
I combine my practical experience of systemic change management and traditional project management methodologies with academic knowledge of Healthcare Leadership and Systems Thinking in Practice. I provide a thorough holistic inquiry into the situation of concern to develop a ‘picture’ of the situation, listening to the stories of the people involved and understanding different perspectives. I then work with stakeholders to facilitate co-design of a way forward which makes sense for their particular circumstances. This may involve some or all of these elements:
- Initial scoping and mapping of the situation of concern to identify stakeholders, and develop and understanding of interdependencies and the boundaries and environment within which the situation sits.
- Stakeholder engagement and analysis to facilitate group learning about the situation of concern, through meetings and workshops, capturing and reflecting back stories, and using systems diagramming to explore influence and multiple causes within systems.
- Facilitate co-design of emergent next steps working closely with stakeholders to ensure investment in driving forward the agreed changes.
- Project management of change processes, adapting and responding to feedback from within the system and its surrounding environment so that the project is constantly co-evolving with the system.

Employment History
Commissioning and Transformation Manager
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
August 2017 – September 2019
Achievements and responsibilities:
- Collaborative development of a specialist multi-disciplinary (Tier 3) Obesity Management service, working with the Centre for Health Economics for formal evaluation
- Commissioning and procurement of a Minor Eye Conditions Service
- Implementation of a pilot Community Geriatrician Service based on reallocation of existing geriatrician resource
- Full public consultation regarding policy changes to gluten free foods prescribing
- Evaluation and closure of a prescribing pilot which was not delivering the agreed outcomes
Pathway Implementation and Choice Manager
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
October 2013 – August 2017
Achievements and responsibilities:
- Managing a large team of staff who were responsible for processing patient referrals from GPs and community optometrists into secondary care
- Development and implementation of referral pathways to improve system integration, reduce duplication, and minimise risk of adverse incidents
- Stakeholder management of patients, commissioners, secondary care providers, GP practices and community optometrists
Individual Funding Request Case Manager
NHS Yorkshire and Humber Commissioning Support Unit
June 2012 – October 2013
Achievements and responsibilities:
- Managing a team of staff through the NHS reform, preparing and delivering business continuity through the transition from Primary Care Trusts to CCGs and other new organisations
- Harmonisation of Individual Funding Request processes across eight Yorkshire and Humber CCGs, whilst maintaining preferred local variations
- Review and update of the Individual Funding Request policy which was publicly accessible to patients and referring clinicians
- Stakeholder management through the transitional period to provide communication and support to GP practices and provider services
Education & cpd
- MSc Systems Thinking in Practice (Started 2019)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership – Passed with Merit (2017)
- Institute of Leadership and Management Level 3 (2012)
- NVQ Business and Administration Level 3 (2010)
- NHS Horizons, School for Change Agents – online programme (2020)
- Society for Editors and Proofreaders, Proofreading1: Introduction – online programme (2019)
- NHS England, Patient and Public Voice Partner Training – two day residential (2018)
- Skills Development Network, An Understanding of NHS Procurement – day course (2018)
- Skills Development Network, An Understanding of NHS Finance – day course (2018)
Do you need help with your healthcare project?
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Get in touch
Want to find out more about how I can help you to deliver projects which improve outcomes for patients and for your organisation? Contact me using the methods below.
call me
07496 553 436
Email me
contact@louisehorsfield.co.uk