26 June 2006
GOGGINS ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE DESIGNATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
David Sissling has been appointed the Chief Executive Designate of the Health and Social Services Authority.
Health Minister Paul Goggins made the announcement during his keynote speech to the health service today.
Mr Sissling, who is currently the Chief Executive of the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority in England, will begin work here at the beginning of August.
The Health and Social Services Authority (HSSA) will replace the four existing health and social service boards from 1 April 2008. The Authority will be responsible for the overall day-to-day performance management of the health and personal social services. The Authority will be accountable to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, whose Permanent Secretary, Andrew McCormick is also Chief Executive of the HPSS. Until the HSSA comes into being (subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation) the Chief Executive Designate will work within the DHSSPS.
Announcing the appointment, Health Minister Paul Goggins said: "I congratulate David Sissling on his appointment and wish him well. This is an important time for health and social services in Northern Ireland. David's appointment is critical to delivering an unprecedented programme of reform and modernisation. David Sissling has an impressive track-record of working in health services in England. No doubt he will share that wealth of experience with us as he sets up the new HSSA and begins managing it in April 2008.
"We look forward to working with David as he develops new commissioning arrangements for the provision of health and social services. These new arrangements will put patients, clients and carers at the centre of our thinking and actions."
Commenting on his appointment, David Sissling said: "I look forward to setting up the new Health and Social Services Authority and working with the Trusts to deliver further performance improvements. The new Authority provides an excellent opportunity to consolidate and build upon the real recent reforms of the health and social care system. Achieving this will require a continued focus on delivery and on the funding of priorities which genuinely reflect the needs of people and their communities. The people of Northern Ireland deserve excellent health and care services and it is my intention, working with colleagues from across the service, to deliver the best standard of care possible."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
David Sissling's Biography:
David Sissling joined the National Health Service in 1993 having spent the early part of his career in the private sector. He worked in a variety of roles at The Leicester Royal Infirmary, a large acute teaching hospital, becoming Chief Executive of the Trust in 1998. In 2000, he became Chief Executive to Northamptonshire Health Authority, an organisation with a particular focus on commissioning and public health.
In April 2002 he was appointed as Chief Executive of the newly formed Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority. The Authority is responsible for establishing a strategic direction for the local NHS and ensuring the delivery of a wide range of national and local performance targets. It covers a population of 1.7m, an annual revenue budget of some £2bn, a capital expenditure programme in excess of £1bn and a workforce of 30,000. David Sissling has contributed in a number of areas nationally including finance (Chair of the NHS Bank), performance management systems, leadership development and diversity.
Media enquiries to Áine Gaughran, DHSSPS Press Office: 028 9052 0680/07717732079
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