Public appointment: Chair reappointed to Borders NHS Board

The Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson MSP today announced the reappointment of Mrs Karen Hamilton as Chair of Borders NHS Board.

Chair

Karen Hamilton has 25 years of experience in Adult Care and Social Work, starting in Care Services in Aberdeen where she gained a Diploma in Social Work from Robert Gordon University. Since then she has had a varied career progressing to Senior Management positions with both Moray and Highland councils culminating in Head of Service for Care at Home Development with Highland. Karen has also achieved Post Graduate Certificates in Leadership and Social Work Practice Teaching.

Since her initial appointment in 2019, Karen has overseen significant changes of leadership within NHS Borders, both with freshly appointed Executive Directors and Non-Executive Members, building a diverse and well-functioning Team that support each other and strive to do what is best for patients. She is a member of the National Board Development Group looking at the Blueprint for Good Governance, designed to streamline and improve consistency of performance across Health Boards.

More locally, Karen has constantly strived to improve visibility of management across the entire organisation at all levels; volunteering on Wards, making impromptu visits to a range of services and engaging with Local Authority, Third Sector and Educational establishments to broaden and share the vision of right care, right place, right time. Karen looks forward to her second term as Chair, continuing to provide strong leadership towards continuous improvement of Health and Social Care services for the people across the Borders and addressing the impact that the pandemic has had on the NHS across Scotland.

Reappointment

The reappointment for Mrs Hamilton is for four years from 15 July 2023 to 14 July 2027.

The reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £33,351 per annum for a time commitment of three days per week.

Other ministerial appointments

Mrs Hamilton does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.  

Mrs Hamilton has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

NHS Borders is responsible for meeting the health needs and improving the health and wellbeing of around 118,900 people living in the Borders, spread over 4,723 square kilometres of town, village and rural communities.  NHS Borders provides a range of health and social care services which includes acute, mental health, primary and community services.