CHISHOLM ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR NHS LANARKSHIRE

14 Mar 2002 03:51 PM

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm today announced that Mr Lex Gold CBE has been appointed as Chair of Lanarkshire NHS Board. He will take up his position on 1 April 2002, on the retirement of Mr Ian L Livingstone CBE.

Mr Livingstone was first appointed Chair of Lanarkshire Health Board in April 1993 and has made an important contribution to the establishment of the new unified NHS Board in Lanarkshire since August 2001, a period which has covered the appointment of a new Chief Executive, Mr David Pigott, former Chief Executive of Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust, who took up his post in January 2002.

Mr Chisholm also announced that Mr John Mitchell, Head Teacher of Kilsyth Academy, has been appointed as Trustee of Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust from 1 April 2002.

Mr Chisholm said:

"I am delighted to announce these important new appointments. Both new members bring a diverse range of skills and experience which will be of great benefit to NHS Lanarkshire.

"The appointment of Lex Gold is particularly welcome. Mr Gold is a public servant of exceptional energy and enthusiasm, and I look forward to working together with him to continue the vital task of improving the health of the people of Lanarkshire.

"I should also like to add my thanks to Ian Livingstone for his immense contribution to the NHS in Lanarkshire over the past decade."

Welcoming Mr Gold's appointment, Mr Livingstone said:

"I am delighted that Lex Gold has been appointed Chairman of Lanarkshire NHS Board. His extensive experience of the public sector at the highest level will serve Lanarkshire well in the future, and will enable the challenging agenda of health improvement and high quality health care to be driven forward."

BACKGROUND

1. These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

2. Biographical details of those appointed, together with their period of appointment and remuneration, are set out below.

LANARKSHIRE NHS BOARD

3. The appointment of Mr Lex Gold CBE as Chairperson of Lanarkshire NHS Board is for four years from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2006.

4. Mr Gold, 61, has been Director of The Scottish Chambers of Commerce since 1996 and is a former Director of CBI Scotland. He spent over 30 years as a Civil Servant until 1993, including appointments as Managing Director of Scottish Enterprise and Director for Scotland of the Training Agency of the Manpower Services Commission. He has been a Director of Caledonian MacBrayne Limited since 1997.

5. A former professional footballer, Mr Gold has served as Chairman of Hibernian Football Club and is currently Chairman of the Scottish Premier League, which he helped to establish. Mr Gold's wide-ranging interests are reflected in his membership of the Scottish European Structural Funds Forum, the BBC Scottish Appointments Panel and the Scottish Executive National Qualifications Steering Group.

6. Mr Gold has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.

7. It is expected that the Chairperson will contribute around 3 days per week for which he will receive remuneration of £28,000.

8. Mr Ian L Livingstone CBE was first appointed Chair of Lanarkshire Health Board in April 1993, having served as a member of the Health Board from 1988 to 1993. He was appointed Chair of Lanarkshire NHS Board in August 2001.

9.
Lanarkshire NHS Board is responsible for the strategic planning of health services and the development of measures to improve the health of the community in Lanarkshire. To meet those needs it has an annual budget of around £500 million.

10. The establishment of 15 new NHS Boards was announced in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change' (Scottish Executive Health Department, December 2000). Further details were given in the policy document Rebuilding our National Health Service (May 2001). The NHS Boards have been designed to simplify and rationalise existing NHS decision-making structures and create greater accountability and transparency.

LANARKSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

11. Mr John Mitchell's appointment as Trustee of Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is for 4 years from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2006.

12. Mr Mitchell, 57, has been a teacher since 1968 and has been Head Teacher of Kilsyth Academy since 1985 and has served as a Complaints Convener for Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust. A past President of the Head Teachers' Association, Scotland, Mr Mitchell also holds a Ministerial appointment as a member of the board of Learning & Teaching Scotland.

13. During the past five years, Mr Mitchell has canvassed on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party.

14. It is expected that the Trustee will contribute around 8 hours per week, for which he will receive remuneration of £7,000.

Contact: John McCroskie: 0131 244 2797
News Release: «SE 593/02»
Internet: www.scotland.gov.uk