New director for community health and social care

A joint panel comprising NHS Shetland board members and SIC councillors has appointed Simon Bokor-Ingram to a new post of director of community health and social care.

This joint post is one of the firstof its kind in Scotland, and will see Mr Bokor-Ingram leading the integration of health and social care services in Shetland. He was successfully appointed following a two-day recruitment exercise involving representatives from both organisations.

Mr Bokor-Ingram has worked in the NHS for most of his working career, in a number of hospitals and in a Primary Care Trust in the south of England before taking up the post as director of clinical services for NHS Shetland in 2008. He has also spent the past few months acting as interim director of community care for the SIC.

Mr Bokor-Ingram will continue covering both posts while arrangements are put in place to allow him to take up the new appointment.

Chairman of SIC’s social services committee Cecil Smith said: “This is a welcome appointment for both organisations, and I’m looking forward to working with Simon to further develop our work to continue to provide the people of Shetland with a high standard of services.”

NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said: “I’m extremely pleased at this appointment. This is an important and key role for the future of community health and social care services in Shetland, and Simon brings a wide range of skills and experience to the post.”

Mr Bokor-Ingram’s post will jointly be funded by both organisations, representing a £50,000 saving for the SIC.