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This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Appointments to Ambulance Service Board

19/06/2003

Mr William Brackenridge is to be appointed as Chair of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board from 1 July 2003, it was announced today.

The current Chairman, Mr Owen Clarke CBE, is due to retire on 30 June 2003. Malcolm Chisholm also announced that Mrs Christine Humphries, Mrs Alice Lambert and Mr Douglas Marr had been appointed as Members of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board from 1 April 2003. All of these appointments are for 4 years.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:

"I am delighted to announce these important new appointments. Each individual brings a diverse range of skills and experience which will be of great benefit to the Board. They have already demonstrated energy and enthusiasm and a clear understanding of the issues being faced within the Scottish Ambulance Service.

"I should also like to add my personal thanks to Owen Clarke for his immense contribution to the Scottish Ambulance Service. During his time as Chair, he successfully steered the Service through an unprecedented change agenda, modernising and improving services for the benefit of patients. Those successes would not have been achieved without Owen's drive, determination and personal commitment and he should, rightly, be proud of his

achievements."

Welcoming the new appointments, Mr Owen Clarke said :

"I know Bill Brackenridge is very keen on his new appointment and I have no doubt that he will be an excellent Chair of this important branch of the NHS in Scotland. He will be, as I have been, supported by a first class Board and by the commitment and dedication of the 3,500 people who work in the Service.

"I am delighted that Christine Humphries, Alice Lambert and Douglas Marr will also be joining the Board as Members. The mixture of skills and experience which they bring will further enrich the current strengths of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board, and we look forward very much to working together over the months and years ahead."

This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA). A statement of validation from the Independent Assessor appointed by OCPA has been obtained. This confirms full compliance with the OCPA Code of Practice at each stage of the appointments process.

The Scottish Ambulance Service provides pre-hospital treatment and care for some 500,000 accident and emergency patients a year. It also provides non-emergency services for transporting patients to and from hospitals and clinics for elective treatment and therapies. To meet those needs it has an annual budget of around £120 million.

Mr William Brackenridge has recently retired from the position of Director, Scotland with the Hay Group Management Ltd, a management consultancy specialising in Human Resources issues. In addition to 24 years experience with that organisation, he worked with Strathclyde Regional Council as a Policy Planner and in the Cargo Division of British Airways. Mr Brackenridge was elected, without party affiliation or representing any interest group, to Helensburgh Community Council in May 2001. He currently holds a Ministerial appointment as a Non-Executive Director of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd., for which he receives an annual remuneration of £6,297.

It is expected that as Chair, Mr Brackenridge will contribute around 2/3 days per week for which the annual remuneration is £22,000.

Mrs Christine Humphries has recently retired from the position of Strategy Manager for Lifelong Care with Scottish Borders Council. In addition to over 10 years in planning and performance management, she has experience of social work practice and management in a number of health settings. Mrs Humphries has pursued her commitment of ensuring that the requirements of patients and their carers are central to service planning and provision in her previous post as Secretary of the Borders Local Health Council and through membership of the Scottish Consumer Council, and is a consumer representative on a range of bodies. Mrs Humphries has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years, and does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Mrs Alice Lambert is a former shellfish farmer and currently has an accommodation business on the Island of Mull. She has served a term as a member of Argyll and Clyde Health Council and through that has been involved in a variety of health related groups and projects. She is currently a regional Board Member of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, a lay member of the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants and Convenor of the Mull and Iona Community Trust. Mrs Lambert is also a Board Member of Scottish Natural Heritage, for which she receives an annual remuneration of £7,484. Mrs Lambert has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.

Mr Douglas Marr retired from Marks and Spencer plc in December 2001, after 30 challenging and rewarding years. His career has included commercial, audit and financial roles, and latterly, as Financial Controller, he was involved in leading and managing change in Scotland Northern England and Ireland. Mr Douglas Marr has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years, and does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

It is expected that as Members, they will contribute around 8 hours per week for which the annual remuneration is £7,000.

Page updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2004