News /
6 June 2016

Non-Executive Members Reappointed to the Board of NHS 24

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport today announced the reappointment of Susan Dunn, Madeline Smith and Albert Tait as Non-Executive Members of the Board of NHS 24.

MEMBERS

Susan Dunn is a qualified accountant, bringing a background in industry and management consultancy with a broad range of strategic change experience to the Board. She is chair of the Finance and Performance Committee. Susan is an experienced non-executive director also working with Maggie's cancer centres, Transport Scotland, Prestwick Airport and Family Therapy Training Network. Susan worked at William Grant & Sons for seven years as IS Director and then Global Supply Chain Director, where her remit included procurement. Prior to that, she worked for IBM/PWC consulting where she led the integration of the business across Europe. Susan’s experience also includes strategy definition and implementation, business transformation and leadership, and immediately before joining NHS 24 Susan held the position of non-executive member with NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

Madeline Smith’s professional focus has involved strategy and evaluation for innovation and complex collaborations, delivering innovative approaches across the private, public and academic sectors. She has led strategic policy in national economic development, as well as large scale improvement programmes in private sector manufacturing environments. Her current role is Head of Development in the Institute of Design Innovation at The Glasgow School of Art. She also runs a small consultancy specialising in innovation and industry cluster development and has had previous Non Executive responsibilities including as Chair of a voluntary sector board. Madeline brings a deep understanding of innovation and strategy to the board, including the role of design, how technology can be an enabler, and the effective use of evaluation and evidence in delivering strategic change.

Albert Tait has over 40 years’ experience at senior management level in both the private and public sector. He is the former Chief Executive of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and Orkney Islands Council and was previously the Director of Finance and Housing at Orkney Islands Council, and a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland. Has been actively engaged in strategic planning, resource allocation and performance management with specific reference to the integration of health and social care services. He is a qualified accountant (FCCA, CPFA) he brings extensive knowledge and experience of public sector finance in general and local government in particular.

REAPPOINTMENTS

The reappointments will be for a period of four years and will run from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2020.

These reappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

REMUNERATION

The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,169 for a time commitment of one day per week.

OTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS

Albert Tait is a non-executive Board member of David McBrayne Ltd, for which he receives a daily rate of £314 for a time commitment of three days per month. Neither of the other two reappointees hold any other ministerial public appointments.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY

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 five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. None of the reappointees have had any political activity in the last fiveyears.

BACKGROUND

NHS 24 delivers a high quality online and out of hours telephone service providing access to health advice and information at any time across Scotland. Its core unscheduled care service handles successfully about 1.7 million calls out of hours each year, providing clinical advice and care when GP surgeries are closed and people are too ill to wait until they re-open. Working with Health Boards and other partners NHS 24 also provides a range of other health information services to inform and support people in maintaining their health and managing ill health, including NHS Inform which provides the public with a wide range of online services including a health encyclopaedia and local services database.