4/11/2005

The NHS Appointments Commission today confirmed the re-appointment of Mark Hendry and Derek Harbottle as Non-Executive Directors of West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust.

Mark and Derek will continue their responsibilities for overseeing the development and modernisation of services for patients.

Non Executive Directors, as Board members, work to ensure that the Primary Care Trust is accountable to the public and operates in a way that 'maintains the best traditions' of public service. They also support the development of external relationships with local residents, patients, local government and other partner organisations.

As Non-Executive Directors, Mark and Derek play a crucial role in ensuring that the culture and direction of the organisation is in tune with the needs of the local community it serves.

Mark Hendry is an economist and a teacher by profession and is currently managing a nursery school, which is the "family" business. He lives in Brockworth with his
wife, Louise, children Emily and Stewart and his dad Len.

Mark is currently the Board's Patient Complaints 'Champion' and is lead for the Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) which oversees community hospital cleanliness, patient privacy and dignity and standards of hospital food. He is also patient safety lead and a member of the Charitable Funds Committee.

Derek Harbottle trained as a Chartered Accountant and has spent most of his career in the financial services industry. His last role was Chief Accountant and Company Secretary at an insurance group based in Gloucester. He has lived in Brockworth for 20 years and is married with two grown up children.

Derek is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Governance Committee which looks at how the experiences of patients can be used to improve standards of patient care.

Chair of West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Ms Liz Boait said:

"The re-appointment of Mark and Derek is positive news for the Primary Care Trust. We have a challenging agenda ahead as we continue to strive to make a real, perceptible difference in people's lives by improving the health of the population and local health services."

"Mark and Derek as Board members are committed to supporting front line healthcare staff in the delivery of NHS services, improving the patient's experience of care and strengthening our relationships with all our partners and the public."

The Primary Care Trust oversees the development of primary care (e.g. services provided by GPs and their teams), delivers community healthcare services such as therapy, district nursing, health visiting and podiatry and 'buys' hospital services and specialist health services on behalf of the local population.

The PCT also manages the two Community Hospitals in the Forest of Dean and works with partner organisations to improve the health of the local population.

During the last year, the PCT has notched up a number of successes such as achieving almost all of its national and local targets around patient access to health services and waiting times, joining together Health and Social Care Occupational Therapy services to provide a more seamless services to patients and opening new dental centres in Cinderford and Gloucester to improve access to NHS Dentistry.

The PCT has also helped more people than ever before to give up smoking through local support services and has developed its 'Best Foot Forward' podiatry pilot scheme, which is playing an important role in reducing the number of people experiencing walking difficulties and helping to prevent trips and falls.

One of the Primary Care Trust's top priorities for the coming year is to reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital by enhancing the range of community based health services available closer to the patient's own home.

Mark and Derek have been re-appointed to serve between 1st December 2005 and 30th November 2007. They are entitled to remuneration at the rate of £5,673 per annum.