CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF NHS PROFESSIONALS ANNOUNCED

26 Sep 2003 10:45 AM

HEALTH MINISTER WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM TO NHS PROFESSIONALS

Health Minister John Hutton today welcomed the appointment of a Chief Executive and shadow non-executive team to the board of the planned NHS Professionals Special Health Authority.

Mr Hutton said:

"I am delighted that most of the senior appointments to NHS Professionals have now been made. The Chief Executive designate, Carmel Flatley, has a wealth of private sector management experience to bring to her new role. The non-executive team comes from a range of different backgrounds, providing the new SHA with complementary skills and experience for the task ahead.

The NHS needs to recruit, invest in and retain sufficient high calibre staff to improve the quality, flexibility and accessibility of patient services. NHS Professionals will provide a long needed mechanism to ensure an efficient and cost-effective approach for the recruitment and retention of temporary staff.

The Chair designate of NHS Professionals, Mr Richard Martin said:

"I am delighted to have this new team in post. I do not
under-estimate the size of the job we have to undertake. It is an enormous task, and one of great importance to the NHS. I am very confident that with the appointment of Carmel Flatley and an excellent team of non-executives, we are well placed to take matters forward."

Notes for Editors:

The appointment of the chair designate and non-executive board members was made by the NHS Appointments Commission. Carmel Flatley's appointment as Chief Executive was made by the Department of Health. Remuneration for non-executives will be £5,426 for approximately 2 days per month.

Background of Board Members

Richard Martin (Chair designate)
Richard Martin was appointed chair designate of NHS Professionals in June 2003. He was previously Chief Executive of Adecco UK Ltd, the largest HR services and recruitment company in the world and in the UK. He was previously managing director of Granada Hospitality Ltd, and Chief Executive of Mann Egerton & Co Ltd. His public sector experience includes current service as a Governor of Thames Valley University; membership of the Board of the Sector Skills Development Agency; and working as a trustee for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Carmel Flatley (Chief Executive)
Carmel Flatley is American, and has lived in England for over 20 years. Her career background is in Human Resources, most of her experience being with the MacDonalds Corporation. She rose from being a personnel officer in the organisation in the early 1980s, appointed in 1998 as Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Training Officer. In this post she was responsible for the recruitment, retention and career development of a transient workforce of over 55,000. She left MacDonalds earlier this year, having decided to seek a career transition to a new area. Carmel Flatley is 46.

Non-Executives

Richard Bromberg
IT Director and Interim Consultant with multi-national experience including Hitachi Europe, Hay Management Group, Times International and Elizabeth Arden having trained with Marks & Spencer. Aged 51, he lives in London and is married with 2 children. He has declared that he is not politically active.

Fiona Eldridge
Chairman of "Teaching Personnel" since 2001. Previously Head of Regional Recruitment Strategies for the Teacher Supply and Recruitment Group of the Teacher Training Agency prior to which she was Principal and Director of MPW Ltd the independent colleges group. Aged 43, she lives in London. She has declared that she is not politically active.

John Flook
A self employed business coach and consultant adviser. Following a long career in NHS finance, he was until recently Associate Director of Finance for County Durham and Tees Valley Health Authority. John Flook was National Chairman of the Healthcare Financial Management Association for 2001/2. He was also responsible for a national review of NHS Professionals for the Department of Health. Aged 54, he lives in Darlington and is married with 2 children. He has declared political activity on behalf of the Labour Party.

Susan Hobbs
Chief Nurse at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust with responsibility as Head of Service for 4,500 nurses and as lead on Clinical Governance. Aged 54, she is married and lives in Plymouth. She has declared that she is not politically active.

John King
Former Corporate Development and Resources Director Abbey National Plc. Non-executive director of the Sector Skills Development Agency and ENTRUST (Environmental Trust scheme regulatory body) also a Director of Abbey National Pension Schemes. Married with 4 children. Aged 57, he lives in Bedfordshire. He has declared that he is not politically active.

Anthony MacKeever
Managing Director and partner in "Quo Health". Previously Chief Executive of Warwickshire Health Authority, and prior to that at Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals NHS Trust. Aged 46, he has 2 children and lives in Northamptonshire. He has declared that he is not politically active.

Carol Varlaam
Former Head of Corporate Human Resource Planning at the BBC. Holds a portfolio of interests including Lay Membership of the General Dental council, Non-Executive Director of the Southwest London Strategic Health Authority and Chair of the Research Committee for Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for Broadcast film and Media. Former Chair of Merton Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. Aged 62, she is married and lives in London. She has declared that she is not politically active.

NHS Professionals

NHS Professionals was established in November 2000 to match healthcare staff seeking temporary work with the NHS Trusts who need them. This means that the NHS no longer has to rely exclusively on commercial recruitment firms for temporary staff, ensuring better value for money and more resources for patient services. NHS Professionals has already made a difference in some parts of the country, helping Trusts to manage successfully local temporary labour markets, and offering staff the benefits of flexible working.

The establishment of NHS Professionals as a Special Health Authority will take place at the beginning of 2004, and will provide a national service to the NHS, helping Trusts locally to best manage their temporary staffing needs. It will be accountable for the management of the NHS temporary labour market, and responsible for:

i. the strategic oversight of temporary labour markets; ii. management of agency framework contracts;
iii. setting standards and the policy framework for NHS temporary staffing: and
iv. the operational management of the NHS Professionals Service in partnership with the local NHS

It will have an independent Management Board and Chief Executive, reporting directly to the Department of Health.

Special Health Authorities have been set up to provide a national service to the NHS or the public, under Section 11 of the NHS Act 1977. They are independent, but can be subject to ministerial direction like other NHS bodies. Examples of Special Health Authorities include: National Institute for Clinical Excellence, National Patient Safety Agency and UK Transplant. More information is on-line at www.doh.gov.uk/about/specialhas.htm