Public appointment: Members appointed to Healthcare Improvement Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, Angela Constance MSP, today announced the appointment of Bob Benson and Peter Murray as Members of the Board of Healthcare Improvement Scotland. 

Members 

Bob Benson has executive and non-executive experience gained across most sectors throughout the country. He has held statutory policy guidance and legislative advisor roles for UK and Scottish Ministers, particularly in equality and human rights. He has also held public appointments as vice-Chair and Board Member, NHS Tayside, including Chair roles of Dundee City and Perth and Kinross, Integrated Joint Boards for Health and Social Care. He was formerly a Member of the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service advancing Christie Report reforms around public safety and protection with a preventative agenda, also serving on numerous advisory bodies on access to transport, work and addressing inequalities. 

Peter Murray is Convener of the Scottish Social Services Council and brings extensive experience from across Scotland’s public services. He previously served as an Assistant Chief Officer with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service where he played a key role in the creation of Scotland’s single national fire and rescue service. He was also Chair of Bon Accord Care, vice-Chair of the Board of NHS Lothian and Chair of East Lothian Integrated Joint Board for Health and Social Care.  Peter is also a Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland where he contributes to the appointment of judicial office holders across the Scottish courts and tribunal service. 

Appointments 

The appointments are for four years from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2030. 

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. 

Remuneration and time commitment 

The appointments attract remuneration of £312.00 per day for a time commitment of four days per month. 

Other Ministerial appointments 

Peter Murray is Convener of the Scottish Social Services Council and receives £353.00 per day for a time commitment of six days per month. He is also a Member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland and receives £320.85 per day for a time commitment of four days per month. 

Bob Benson 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. 

Bob Benson and Peter Murray have had no political activity within the last five years. 

Background 

HIS is the national improvement organisation for health and social care in Scotland. Their core purpose is to enable the people of Scotland to experience the best quality health and social care, with a specific focus on safety.  

Their role is to be at the heart of national efforts to understand, shape and improve the quality and safety of health and social care. They ensure that the people of Scotland can rely on and trust the services they are using, and that those who are delivering care are supported to continuously improve. They are uniquely positioned in the system because of their ability to combine assurance, improvement, engagement and evidence, which means they can: ensure care is safe, effective and evidence-based, person-centred, and equitable; deliver improvement programmes for care that people receive in different settings; inform decision making across the system with our learning, intelligence and evidence; support change and reform through methodology and resources.