NHS Lanarkshire has appointed Professor Jann Gardner as its new chief executive.
Professor Gardner – who began her healthcare career as a clinical pharmacist at Hairmyres Hospital – is currently chief executive of the NHS Golden Jubilee centre and will take up her new post in January.
She called it “a privilege” to be appointed to the role and said she is looking forward to helping “develop new and innovative ways to support the current challenges within our health service”.
After beginning her career at the East Kilbride hospital, one of Lanarkshire’s three acute facilities, Professor Gardner worked through progressively senior roles in her field and then within wider hospital and healthcare management.
She has 25 years of healthcare management experience with senior clinical, operational, strategy and transformation leadership roles, including serving as deputy chief executive of NHS Fife before taking up her current role at the helm of the Golden Jubilee in January 2019.
Professor Gardner will succeed current chief executive Heather Knox, who is retiring in November.
She said of her new role: “It is a privilege to be appointed chief executive at a time of huge challenge, but also great opportunities to improve health and wellbeing across Lanarkshire.
“People are what makes NHS Lanarkshire a great organisation and I look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues, communities and partners to continue to develop new and innovative ways to support the current challenges within our health service.
“NHS Lanarkshire’s highly-skilled specialists and dedicated staff have helped thousands of patients, providing them with high quality care and a better quality of life after treatment; I’m very proud to be joining an organisation that ensures that person-centred care is at the heart of every discussion and decision.”
Board chair Martin Hill said: “Jann is a fantastic appointment for NHS Lanarkshire, bringing with her vast experience and expertise in healthcare management.
“The panel were universally impressed by Jann, whose vision and leadership skills shone through, and we look forward to welcoming her to NHS Lanarkshire.”
Health secretary Humza Yousaf welcomed Professor Gardner’s appointment and said: “She brings a wealth of experience and excellent leadership to the role, and I know she will work to deliver the highest quality of care for the people of Lanarkshire.”
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