Yorkshire Ambulance Service Appoints New Non-Executive Director
Thursday, 14 October, 2010
Patricia Drake has been appointed to serve on the Board of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust as a Non-Executive Director. The appointment was made by the Appointments Commission and runs from 4 October 2010 until 3 October 2014.
Patricia, from Scammonden near Huddersfield, has extensive experience in the NHS from her role as the Assistant Chief Nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust before she retired in 2006. She is currently the Director of Innovate and Development Ltd, an independent lay member of the Kirklees Community Health Service and a Justice of the Peace in Calderdale.
Della Cannings, Chairman of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "I am delighted to welcome Patricia as a member of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Board. I am confident that her skills and knowledge will be a great asset to the organisation as we continue to develop our services for the benefit of patients.
"We have a high regard for the work carried out by our non-executive directors and their valuable contribution helps to ensure we provide the best quality ambulance service to meet the needs of local people."
As members of the Trust Board, non-executive directors oversee the delivery of ambulance services for the local community and help ensure the best use of financial resources to maximise benefits for patients. They also contribute to plans to improve and develop services which meet the area's particular needs. As residents of Yorkshire, the non-executive directors provide a crucial link between the Trust and local people and help to ensure that the interests of patients are well-represented when any decisions are taken by the Board.
Non-executive directors are expected to spend 2 1/2 days a month working for the Trust and receive £6,096 remuneration per year which is the current rate for non-executive directors of NHS trusts.
The appointment has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' (OCPA) Code of Practice. All non-executive 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 (if any declared) to be made public. Patricia Drake does not hold any other ministerial appointments and has no declared political activity within the last five years.
