Hart appoints Transitional Directors for new NHS organisations

Arrangements to ensure an effective transition during the period leading up to the establishment of the seven new NHS organisations in Wales have been made by Health and Social Services Minister Edwina Hart.

Earlier this year Hart outlined plans to streamline the NHS in Wales by scrapping the existing 14 health trusts and 22 Local Health Boards and replacing them with just seven organisations.

The Transition Directors Hart has appointed, all of whom will begin their posts with immediate effect, are:

• Cardiff and Vale – Jan Williams (currently Chief Executive, National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare);

• Gwent – Simon Dean, currently Director of Service Delivery and Performance, Welsh Assembly Government;

• Cwm Taf – Margaret Foster, currently Chief Executive, Cwm Taf NHS Trust;

• ABM University – Andrew Goodall, currently acting Chief Executive, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot LHBs;

• Powys – Judith Paget, currently Chief Executive, Powys LHB;

• North Wales – Mary Burrows, currently Chief Executive, North Wales NHS Trust; and,

• Hywel Dda – Martin Turner, currently interim Chief Executive, Hywel Dda NHS Trust.

The Transitional Directors will be responsible for maintaining business continuity to ensure the NHS in Wales continues to deliver “bottom line requirements” for performance during the transitional period.

They will also ensure that the NHS organisations in the area covered by the new Local Health Boards draw together operational plans for 2009/10 and co-ordinate the implementation of the organisational changes.

Commenting on her appointments Hart said: “I have asked Welsh Assembly Government officials to meet the Transitional Directors at the earliest opportunity to determine the detail of their work programmes so work begins immediately within local communities.

“In addition, national and local Transitional Boards will now be established to progress the necessary work and to ensure local communities are engaged throughout the transitional period.”