Who are the five experts appointed to drive 'change' in Health?

Monday 30 January 2023

The government has announced the appointed of a 'Change Team' of five people to drive improvements in Health following two damning reports criticising the management of the department.

Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson has confirmed that the five-strong panel will be tasked with enacting a "multifaceted change programme which addresses the deep-rooted cultural issues and ensures the provision of high-quality, safe, patient-centred care."

Last year, a report by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor found serious issues with governance at the Hospital and raised major concerns over the management and working culture within the Health Department. 

Similar issues came to the fore once again last week when the Comptroller and Auditor General issued a report describing poor relations between clinicians and senior management. 

Pictured: A report by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor found serious issues with governance at the Hospital and the Health Department. 

Chris Brown, Beverley Edgar, Cathy Stone, Obi Hasan and Professor Simon Mackenzie have been appointed to the change team.

Deputy Wilson said: "It [the C&AG report] confirms the need for many of the actions which we, the department, with the assistance of the change team, will now act on.

"We will do this as part of our change programme to ensure that we provide good-quality healthcare to islanders."

Pictured: The Health Minister, Deputy Karen Wilson. 

"This turnaround plan improving health services for tax-paying islanders will require expertise, staff engagement and leadership at all levels to deliver better care outcomes and I am committed to ensuring the new health board, the change team and all of HCS do this."

Mr Brown, who is a health professional with more than 35 years’ experience in senior board-level leadership roles, will lead the group. 

Deputy Wilson added: "The additional capacity, skills and knowledge of the change team will supplement those skills which already exist within Health and Community Services. I would like to welcome Chris, Beverley, Cathy, Obi and Simon.

"This is a significant investment to assist the much-needed change and turnaround required on the long-standing issues which islanders are aware of in the Health Department." 

Who is on the 'Change Team'?

According to government, "Chris Bown will be leading the Change Team. Chris is a health professional with over 35 years’ experience in senior board level leadership roles, the last 17 years at a senior level, including time spent in the Health Service in the Bahamas. Chris has practical experience in leading organisations through significant change and service transformation to deliver improvements for patients. 

Pictured: Chris Brown, who will lead the team.

"Beverley Edgar is a highly experienced Human Resources Director, working at Executive Director level since 2008. Professor Simon Mackenzie joins the team as the clinical lead. He has extensive experience in clinical leadership positions, and almost 40 years working in healthcare as a clinician, executive and non-executive. 

"Cathy Stone comes from the Isle of Wight and has 16 years of clinical experience as a nurse and midwife working at Chief Nurse level, as well as more recently as a Clinical Director/CEO level in a Hospice environment. 

"Obi Hasan has extensive experience of leading large scale and complex transformation programmes and financial improvement programmes as Programme Director. He has over 20 years' board-level experience in health services, public and private healthcare, and other private sector industries."