New Chief Executive appointed for Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Healthcare Improvement Scotland has announced the appointment of Angiolina Foster CBE as its new Chief Executive.

Ms Foster has been Director of Health and Social Care Integration at Scottish Government since 2011, with responsibility for a national programme of reform, integrating health and social care services for all adults in Scotland and their carers. Ms Foster also has extensive experience in local government, and was Chief Executive of Communities Scotland from 2003 to 2007.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland is a national health body with key responsibility to help NHSScotland and independent healthcare providers deliver high quality, evidence-based, safe, effective and person-centred care; and to scrutinise services to provide public assurance about the quality and safety of that care.

Speaking of her appointment, Ms Foster said: “I’m delighted to take up this position and looking forward to taking on the challenges that such a role presents. Healthcare Improvement Scotland is an exciting organisation delivering world class healthcare improvement programmes, and is unique in the way that it combines evidence, improvement and scrutiny to improve the quality of healthcare that patients in Scotland receive. I’m looking forward to working with the high quality staff of Healthcare Improvement Scotland to continue to make Scotland a world leader in the quality of healthcare it delivers.”

Dr Denise Coia, Chair of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “This is an excellent appointment for Healthcare Improvement Scotland. I am delighted to welcome Angiolina to the organisation. Her knowledge and wealth of experience across the public sector will be invaluable to our organisation and ensures that we will continue to bring about improvements to the quality of healthcare in Scotland. I would like to pass on my personal thanks – and the thanks of the Board of Healthcare Improvement Scotland – to John Glennie for undertaking the role of Acting Chief Executive so ably since February 2013.”

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “I would like to wish Angiolina every luck for the future and for her new role as Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

“Healthcare Improvement Scotland plays a vital role in ensuring high quality healthcare services for the people of Scotland.  This is an important appointment and I know Angiolina will bring a wealth of experience to this role.”

Ms Foster will take up her new post in April 2014.