NHS Highland has announced the appointment of its third chief executive in less than a year.

Interim deputy chief executive Pam Dudek is to take on the role in October after making a “substantial contribution” during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mrs Dudek replaces Paul Hawkins who has been interim CEO since January 2020 and is retiring later this year.

She began her career as a nurse cadet in 1982, before training as a psychiatric nurse.

After a variety of nursing and leadership roles in substance misuse and mental health services across different boards, she moved to NHS Grampian in 2009 and eventually became head of Moray health and care partnership.

Mrs Dudek said she was “thrilled” to be taking on the role:

“I am particularly delighted to be working with colleagues right across Highland and Argyll and Bute, as we renew our focus on how we work differently together to provide better, more accessible care and services to our communities and to help people look after their own health and wellbeing.”

A reshuffle of NHS board CEOs in January saw NHS Highland’s then-boss Iain Stewart move to NHS Orkney in preparation for the retirement its chief executive.

However Mr Stewart ended up not taking on the position due to a row about his travel during lockdown.

The vacancy at Highland was filled on an interim basis by Paul Hawkins, who transferred from NHS Fife.

Highland health board faces ongoing challenges relating to the May 2019 Sturrock Review, which claimed there was a culture of bullying at the board.

The organisation subsequently implemented a raft of changes including a ‘healing’ process for bullied staff.

A further review into Argyll & Bute services found nearly 7 in 10 current and former NHS staff have experienced bullying and harassment.

NHS Highland chair Professor Boyd Robertson says Mrs Dudek was chosen from a strong field of candidates:

“I am confident that Pam’s considerable leadership experience of partnership working across health, care and the third sector will not only enable NHS Highland to deliver our strategic objectives but to keep building a culture of collaboration and inclusion.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Mrs Dudek has been appointed to continue to improve NHS Highland’s performance on service and delivery, while enabling a culture where every member of staff feels valued.

“She has a track record of working in partnership across the health and care system which is very relevant to collaborative and inclusive leadership across the board.”

 

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