News / NHS’s public health director set to depart
NHS SHETLAND has paid tribute to its outgoing director of public health Sarah Taylor, who is due to leave the health board after more than 15 years at the end of next month.
Health board chairman Ian Kinniburgh said she had been an “incredibly strong advocate” for initiatives designed to prevent health problems from arising during her time with NHS Shetland.
NHS Shetland is not bringing in a like-for-like replacement when Taylor leaves at the end of March. Instead it will buy in support from NHS Grampian and its interim director of public health while also beefing up the isles-based public health team.
“Sarah has been with the board now for 15 and a half years,” Kinniburgh said, “and she’s made a huge difference to the board’s focus on public health.
“We see the importance of public health and improving health in the population, preventing ill health rather than treating health problems, as being certainly something that is absolutely critical to the way we would like to go.”
Kinniburgh continued: “Every year the director of public health produces an annual report. A lot of annual reports are fairly dull, dry and boring, but the work they do each year – it’s been really thought-provoking, stimulating.
“Shetland is in a good place because of the work of Sarah and her team. We’re ahead of the rest of Scotland on things like smoking cessation, breastfeeding, a lot of the prevention work that goes on.”
Taylor also fulfils the role of director of planning, and Kinniburgh said it was thought to be very unlikely that a replacement could be found to do both roles.
There are ongoing national and regional reviews of public health in Scotland, so an interim arrangement to replace Taylor will be put in place with a view to finding a more permanent solution later in 201.
“She’s done a lot of excellent work,” he added. “She’ll certainly be missed, and we wish her well in her future work.”
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.