New director at helm of health and social care

PUBLIC health specialist Sandra Cairney has been appointed associate director of public health for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership.

Sandra worked as a paediatric nurse for 20 years after training as a registered general nurse, midwife and sick children’s nurse at University Hospital in Cardiff.

In 1996, she took up a post as a health improvement practitioner and progressed to the head of the health improvement service in Cardiff.

In 2006, she took up post as locum public health director with Torfaen Local Health Board.

In 2007, she progressed to public health director covering Anglesey and Gwynedd health boards and in 2008, after nearly 30 years of living and working in Wales, she came back to Glasgow to become head of strategy planning and health improvement with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Ms Cairney said: ‘I have a real passion for public health and was really interested in this post in Argyll and Bute.

Partners

‘I am looking forward to working with partners across all sectors, particularly community planning partners and local communities to improve health, prevent ill-health and address inequalities across Argyll and Bute.’

Ms Cairney will also be responsible for strengthening effective working relationships with local agencies ensuring public health concerns are professionally administered and provided.

She will be concentrating on improving and underpinning the quality of services

Sandra Cairney.

available to communities, carers and their families.

Christina West, chief officer of Argyll and Bute HSCP, said: ‘I am really pleased we have appointed Sandra as associate director of public health.

‘She brings with her a depth of experience and knowledge of the importance of the public health message, particularly reducing health inequalities in Argyll and Bute.’