In a significant reshuffle within Scotland's healthcare leadership, Carole Wilkinson, who has served as Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland since 2018, has been appointed as the Interim Chair of NHS Tayside.
This appointment was made by Neil Gray, the Cabinet Secretary for Health. Evelyn McPhail will succeed Wilkinson as the Interim Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Carole Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience to her new role at NHS Tayside. Her tenure at Healthcare Improvement Scotland has been marked by a commitment to enhancing healthcare standards and patient safety. Wilkinson's leadership is expected to drive forward NHS Tayside's mission to deliver high-quality healthcare services to the community.
Commenting on her new role, Wilkinson said:
“I will miss everyone in Healthcare Improvement Scotland, but I know that the organisation will continue to go from strength to strength. I look forward to working with my new colleagues in NHS Tayside and I will be staying in touch over the coming months with developments in Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
“I am grateful to Evelyn McPhail for stepping up to be Interim Chair and wish her well in the role. At a significant time for the organisation, I have also asked Suzanne Dawson to continue to provide leadership as Chair of the Scottish Health Council and as Vice Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.”
Evelyn McPhail, who has been appointed as the Interim Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, boasts an impressive 38-year career in the NHS and Health and Social Care sector. McPhail retired in 2019 after a distinguished career that included serving as the Director of Pharmacy and Medicines for NHS Fife and the Fife Integrated Joint Board of the Health and Social Care Partnership. In these roles, she provided strategic leadership, led on clinical governance, and collaborated with partner organisations to develop and deliver pharmaceutical care services for the people of Fife.
McPhail also spoke about her new appointment, saying:
"I am delighted to be offered and accept the role of Interim Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland and wish to provide the same level of support and guidance to the organisation as Carole has. I look forward to working with all the staff through some potentially challenging times ahead, but am confident that we can all work together to support the delivery of safe and effective care throughout Scotland."
McPhail's contributions to the field of pharmacy and public health have been widely recognised. In November 2019, she was honoured with the Scottish Pharmacy Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding work. Her non-executive roles have included six years as a Council member of the General Pharmaceutical Council until April 2020, and she has been a Governor of Fife College since February 2020.
Evelyn McPhail is known for her expertise in transformational change, having worked in complex environments with multiple stakeholders. Her experience in managing large organisations and her extensive background in health and social care make her a valuable asset to Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
As Carole Wilkinson transitions to her new role at NHS Tayside, and Evelyn McPhail steps into the leadership position at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, both organisations are poised for continued success and improvement in healthcare delivery. These appointments reflect a strategic move to leverage experienced leadership in driving forward Scotland's healthcare agenda.
Image credit: Healthcare Improvement Scotland
