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John Ross new NHS Leader

PORTPATRICK FARMER Mr John Ross has been charged with leading the National Health Service in Dumfries and Galloway into a new era of openness and strengthened accountability.

Appointment of the chairman for the new unified NHS Board marks a significant step in the drive to cut NHS bureaucracy, streamline decision-making and provide efficient, effective and accountable leadership for the local NHS plan.

The new Board will provide a single, identifiable body to plan and manage health services, sweeping away a whole tier of bureaucracy and machinery left over from the NHS internal market.

Scottish Health Minister Ms Susan Deacon said

"As leader of the new Dumfries and Galloway Health Board, John Ross will be a leader for his community. I am laying down a challenge for him to work out how to improve the health of the area, to plan how and where services should be provided and to work closely with other agencies for the benefit of his local area. I am confident that he can meet that challenge".

Mr Ross’s appointment is for three years from 27th July to 31st July, 2004. Aged 56, he is a farmer and company director.