New vice chair appointed for NHS Highland
A new vice chairwoman of the NHS Highland board has been appointed.
Currently chairwoman of the Mid Ross Community Partnership and Highland Health and Social Care Committee, Ann Clark now takes on the role of vice chairwoman of the board.
She was appointed as a non-executive director of the board in April 2017, bringing with her an extensive background in researching, developing and implementing health and social care policy in the Highlands.
Ms Clark has a life-long interest in community empowerment and user involvement in the design and delivery of public service, serving as executive director of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service and Highland Community Care Forum.
She worked as head of policy at Highland Council where she was a member of the senior management team with responsibility for corporate and community planning.
Following a secondment to establish the Scottish Health Council, she set up her own consultancy business, during which time she was also a research fellow at UHI Centre for rural health.
Additionally, Ms Clark has wide ranging experience as a member of committees and boards at national and Highland level, including eight years with the Scottish Consumer Council and several years with Highland Brook Advisory Service and Partnerships for Wellbeing, a charity providing health and social care services to vulnerable adults. In accepting the post as vice chairwoman, Ms Clark said: ‘I’m delighted to be appointed vice chairwoman of NHS Highland. I am very much aware of the challenges we face in delivering much-needed service changes whilst, at the same time, creating a caring and inclusive culture and restoring financial balance.
‘Above all, I am looking forward to working closely with my board colleagues to continue to develop the best possible health and social care services for the people in Highland and Argyll and Bute.’
Boyd Robertson, interim chairman, said: ‘Over the last two years, Ann has made a significant contribution to shaping our thinking on health and social care and I am certain that, as vice chairwoman, she will be able to broaden her influence and contribute even more effectively to the planning of our services in the future. I very much look forward to working with her in her new role.’