With less than a year to go until the establishment of Public Health Scotland, Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman has confirmed the appointment of Professor Jim McGoldrick, as Shadow Chair of Public Health Scotland.
Professor McGoldrick is current Convenor of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and a Board Member of the Care Inspectorate. He is also a Member of the Disability and Carer Benefits Expert Advisory Group.
As Shadow Chair, Jim will have an important role in laying the foundations of the new organisation and establishing the leadership required to create a body equipped to tackle Scotland future public health challenges. Professor McGoldrick said:
‘’I am delighted to be given the opportunity to play a role in the establishment of Public Health Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to communities the length and breadth of Scotland. Realising the potential of the new organisation and the wider public health workforce to lead a renewed effort across national and local government, public services and the third sector to improve health and wellbeing is exciting and challenging in equal measure but one I am looking forward to’’
Jim has extensive experience of the NHS and wider public sector as Chairman of the Fife NHS Board and Vice Chair of the Fife Community Planning Partnership Board until the end of April 2013. He served as a member of the Ministerial Strategic Group for Health and Community Care and worked in Education as a Member of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council from July 2001 until its merger with the Further Education Funding Council in October 2005.
Jim will take up the role of Shadow Chair from 1 July 2019 on a transitional basis to allow recruitment for a permanent Chair to be completed. As Shadow Chair, Jim will oversee the establishment of the organisation and appointment of the shadow board and senior management team in advance of Public Health Scotland becoming fully operational on the 1st April 2020.
