Maria takes over the helm of health board

HEALTH Minister Vaughan Gething has announced the appointment of Maria Battle as the new Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board for a four-year period.

On the appointment, the Minister said: “Maria brings a wealth of experience of the NHS to this role.

“I’m confident that Maria’s clear knowledge, personal drive and passion will help deliver ‘A Healthier Wales’.”

On her appointment, Maria said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of Hywel Dda and looking forward to working with all the dedicated and compassionate teams to continue to improve performance.

“I have learnt in my eight years as a leader in the NHS that what is most important of all is to listen to our patients, our staff and our community so that we can work more effectively together to constantly improve our health service”.

Chief Executive of Hywel Dda Health board Steve Moore said: “Maria joins us at a time of great change for NHS services in West Wales and I know that she will bring the same passion, enthusiasm and dedication to our health board as she has in her previous role.”

The role of Chair is paid a salary of £59,760 per annum.

Maria Battle is a solicitor specialising in public law and human rights and a former lecturer in law.

She was appointed Chair of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in 2012 and will leave this role on August 19.

Maria has wealth of experience gained from being a former Senior Director of Consumer Focus Wales, the Deputy/ Acting Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council’s Standards Committee and the Director of Age Concern, Ceredigion.

She has also been a Non-executive Director of the Principality Stadium and is currently a trustee of the National Museum of Wales and a lay member of the Board of Social Care Wales.