Public appointment: Member appointments extended on the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Board

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, Maree Todd MSP, today announced the extension to the appointments of Cindy Mackie and David Hall as Members of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Board.

Members

Cindy Mackie is an independent consultant with occupational experience in the public, private, and voluntary sectors and currently performs a number of Associate roles within the area of Health and Social Care regulation. Her participation includes Fitness to Practise decision making, Chairing Educational Standards inspections and Independent Healthcare Professional Assessment.

David Hall has over thirty years’ experience as a consultant psychiatrist and medical manager. He has held a number of national roles including national clinical lead for the mental health collaborative, and the Scottish Patient Safety Programme in mental health. He has gained an international reputation in quality improvement in mental health and has worked with the Danish and New Zealand governments, and most recently NHS England.

Extension

The extensions will be for 7 months and will run from 1 May 2026 to 30 November 2026.

The extensions are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The extensions are part-time and attract a remuneration of £279.13 per day for a time commitment of 15 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Cindy Mackie and David Hall do 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.  

Cindy Mackie and David Hall have had no political activity within the last five years. 

Background

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (the Commission) protects and promotes the human rights of people with mental illness, learning disabilities, dementia and related conditions.  The Commission has a key statutory role in safeguarding individual rights and monitoring how the principles of mental health and incapacity legislation are applied in practice.  Through direct interventions in the care and treatment of individuals using mental health and learning disability services, providing guidance and conducting investigations, the Commission has a strong influence on the quality of care and treatment provided of some of the most vulnerable people in our community.