New chairman for Western Isles NHS Board

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing today announced the appointment of the Chair to Western Isles NHS Board.

Ms Sturgeon said:

“I am very pleased to announce this appointment. Mr Galbraith will bring a valuable range of skills and experience which will be of great benefit to Western Isles NHS Board. He has shown a strong commitment to public service over many years and I look forward to working together with him in the vital task of improving the health of the people of Scotland.”

“Political activity”

The new Chair is:

Mr Neil Galbraith who is a former local government Chief Executive and Director of Education and works as an interim manager and consultant on local government infrastructure reform. He has served for the last five years, at both local and national level, with the Scottish Health Council where patient focus and public involvement of the health service have been his primary considerations. Mr Galbraith is an accredited coach/ mentor, a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, and has successfully coached a range of clients in Education, Health and Economic Regeneration, along with coaching senior managers facing the challenge of Local Government Reform in England. Mr Galbraith holds an OBE for services to Education and an honorary doctorate of the Open University. He brings to the role leadership skills of vision in the light of changing circumstances, the capacity to take a strategic view, sound judgement in bringing about organisational change, and good interpersonal and communication skills in engaging staff in promoting positive developments.

The appointment will be for 4 years and will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2014.

This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £27,456 for a time commitment of 3 days per week.

Mr Galbraith does not hold any other Ministerial Appointments.

Western Isles NHS Board is responsible for the strategic planning of health services and the development of measures to improve the health of the communities served by NHS Western Isles.

This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Mr Galbraith has not been involved in any political activity.

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