Chief Officer appointed for Angus Health and Social care Integration Partnership

Chief Officer appointed for Angus Health and Social care Integration Partnership

WEDNESDAY, 25 MARCH, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PHOTOGRAPH ATTACHED OF VICKY IRONS

Chief Officer appointed for Angus Health and Social Care Integration Partnership

NHS Tayside and Angus Council are pleased to announce the appointment of Vicky Irons as Chief Officer for the Angus Health and Social Care Integration Partnership.

Over the next 12 months, it will be the job of the Chief Officer to lead the arrangements for the integration of health and social care services provided by NHS Tayside and Angus Council.

New Health and Social Care Partnerships will be formed by the NHS and the Local Authority in each area of Scotland from April 2015. This means that GPs, hospitals, health workers, social care staff, and the voluntary and independent sectors will increasingly work side-by-side in local teams to share information and provide more co-ordinated services to individuals and their families. 

Prior to her appointment, Vicky was the General Manager of Glenrothes and North East Fife Community Health Partnership and previously worked in a range of senior management roles across the UK and NHSScotland.

On her appointment, Vicky said, “I am delighted to accept the post and look forward to making the most of all of the opportunities opened up by the integration of health and social care.

“Throughout my career I have developed a special interest in primary and community healthcare. I am clear that the challenge of responding to present and future health and social care needs will be significant for the Partnership.

“It’s essential to understand the needs of individuals and communities and the quality of assessment and care provided in community settings is the key to success. Angus has strong foundations already in place and the community focus required to do well and improve the lives of local people and their families.”

Welcoming Vicky’s appointment, Chief Executive of NHS Tayside Lesley McLay said, “I am delighted to welcome Vicky to her new role. Her extensive NHS and local authority experience will ensure that we continue to build and deliver high quality health and social care to the people of Angus.”

Angus Council’s Chief Executive Richard Stiff said, “I look forward to working with Vicky when she takes up her new role. We have made considerable progress during the past year preparing for the new Health and Social Care Partnership, Vicky’s considerable experience of leading significant organisational change will be invaluable as we develop improved and integrated services in Angus.”

Vicky will take up the post on 1 May 2015.  

Notes to editors:

New legislation in the form of the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force on 1 April 2014. The act requires Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate their health and social care services.

Integration of health and social care is the Scottish Government's programme of reform to improve services and outcomes for people who use health and social care services.

Integration will ensure that health and social care provision across Scotland is joined-up and seamless, especially for people with long term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people. The aim is to make sure that services are tailored to meet the particular needs of individual local communities.

Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) in Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross will be replaced by new Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) for each locality.

These will be jointly run by the NHS and the Local Authority in each area from April 2015.

These new Partnerships will have executive powers and will use a single budget to deliver all health and social care services. All staff will continue to be employed by their existing employer, be it Angus Council, Dundee City Council, Perth & Kinross Council or NHS Tayside.

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

01382 740716

25 March 2015