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Struggling health board appoints new leader |
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Image Credit: © NHS Grampian.
Laura Skaife-Knight
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NHS Grampian has appointed a new Chief Executive, who will lead the board through acute financial pressures.
Current NHS Orkney Chief Executive Laura Skaife-Knight will move south to join NHS Grampian in the autumn.
She will take over from current interim chief executive, Dr Adam Coldwells, following his retirement.
Her appointment comes just weeks after NHS Grampian was escalated to level 4 of the government’s formal risk level amid deepening concerns over its finances and leadership.
Ms Skaife-Knight will now, with the support of a Scottish government oversight team, take on leadership of the board.
One of her first tasks will be to work with consultants KPMG to identify tens of millions of pounds in savings.
Speaking on her appointment, Ms Skaife-Knight recognised the immediate challenges facing NHS Grampian:
“I look forward to joining NHS Grampian and leading the organisation through its next chapter, recognising the immediate challenges ahead, the potential for our future and what is possible if we work together when it comes to further improving care, services and experience for our patients, communities and staff.
“I would like to acknowledge the very significant contribution Adam Coldwells has made to the NHS in Scotland both as interim chief executive for Grampian and in community and system-wide roles he has held over the last three decades.”
With 13 years of NHS board-level experience across Scotland and England, Ms Skaife-Knight has most recently been involved in the national reform and renewal agenda, leading some of the key work around population health published last week.
Health Secretary Neil Gray welcomed the appointment, and the “wealth of experience” Ms Skaife-Knight will bring to the role, saying he looks forward to working with her.
NHS Orkney Chair, Meghan McEwen, said “working with Laura has been true privilege” as she consistently puts patients and staff first.
NHS Grampian Chair Alison Evison, highlighted her “track record” of delivering improvements to patients and staff as well as operational and financial performance, which will be “invaluable” to NHS Grampian:
“Laura joins us at a challenging time, but I know that as a leader and chief executive known for putting people first that she already recognises that NHS Grampian’s talented staff and proven ability to deliver the very best care, along with a commitment to working in partnership and collaboration locally, regionally and nationally, means we are well positioned to rise to the occasion and move forward positively, together.”
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