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Healthcare Improvement Scotland
03/09/2010
Minister for Public Health and Sport Shona Robison today announced the appointment of the Chair to Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Ms Robison said:
"I am very pleased to announce this appointment. Dr Coia will bring a valuable range of skills and experience which will be of great benefit to Healthcare Improvement Scotland. She has shown a strong commitment to health and to public service over many years and demonstrates a sound knowledge of quality improvement and scrutiny functions."
The new Chair is:
Dr Denise Coia is a Consultant psychiatrist. She is currently Principal Medical Advisor (Mental Health) within the Scottish Government. Previously she was Vice President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (London) and Chair of the College in Scotland. She was a Board member of the Clinical Standards Board and latterly Quality Improvement Scotland for 7 years. As Honorary Senior Lecturer at Glasgow University she has a long standing research interest in health care service redesign and public involvement in health care provision and was a Board member of Medical Research Scotland. She has worked in an advisory capacity with a range of voluntary organisations. Dr Coia will bring to this role her experience of strategic development, planning and delivery of health services along with past involvement in quality assurance, standard setting and quality measurement.
The appointment will be for four years and will run from September 6, 2010 to September 5, 2014.
This post is part-time and attracts a daily fee of £160 for a time commitment of around 2-3 days per week.
Dr Coia does not hold any other Ministerial Appointments.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is a new organisation which will begin operating on the April 1, 2011. As Chair of this new organisation Dr Coia will lead the transition arrangements for the establishment of HIS.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland will take on the functions of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the regulation of Independent Healthcare function which is currently undertaken by the Care Commission.
It will have around 250 staff and an initial budget of around £19 million.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland will take the lead in improving the quality and safety of care and treatment delivered both by NHS Scotland and by providers of independent health care services. It will achieve this through the efficient, effective and accountable governance of the organisation and by providing strategic leadership and direction which focuses on agreed outcomes.
Dr Coia will be supported by a Board and we will be looking to appoint members shortly. Details of these appointments will be on www.appointed-for-scotland.org in late September/early October 2010.
This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Dr Coia has not been involved in any political activity.