Professor To Lead New Health Transformation Board

The man whose report exposed a potentially unsafe culture at Jersey's General Hospital has been appointed to a new body set up overhaul the healthcare system.

Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor will chair the Health and Care Board and oversee the Health and Community Services department.

He has been given a 12 month contract by Health Minister Deputy Karen Wilson.

She says his expertise is vital to ensuring change is delivered at pace and is focused on benefiting patients.

“I am delighted Professor Mascie-Taylor has been appointed to the role of Chair of our new Health and Care Board and that we have managed to attract a highly experienced candidate.

Not only is he a well-respected clinician with international experience and in-depth knowledge of healthcare systems and governance, he also has an established understanding of the challenges faced by the department.

These attributes are vital to ensure that change is delivered at pace and is focused on delivering benefits for patients.

As chair, he will help us to ensure we have a health service that is best for Jersey by supporting staff working in the system to deliver this outcome."

Deputy Wilson says, over the coming year, Professor Mascie-Taylor will advise her on the terms of reference for the new Board and oversee the 'turnaround team' being put together to reform HCS' clinical governance arrangements.

“Perhaps most importantly, Professor Mascie-Taylor will set clear expectations about the Department’s culture, value, and behaviours by working with staff and patients to achieve an inclusive, collaborative, caring, and innovative environment in which to be cared for and work in”.

The Professor's independent review of HCS and quality and safety in the hospital was published in August.

It exposed instances of bullying by doctors, constructive advice being dismissed and an unwillingness from executives to hold 'powerful and well-connected' minorities to account.

It said the workplace culture was potentially putting patient safety at risk.

Read: Hospital Failings Laid Bare In Scathing Report

Last month, the Health Minister unveiled plans to 'transform' the way Jersey's healthcare system is governed.

Part of those plans included establishing a an independent Health Board, and a 'Freedom to Speak Up Guardian' that staff could take concerns to.

Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor says he delighted to have been chosen to led the emerging Board.

"During the process of the review which I recently undertook I had the opportunity to speak at length with over seventy people in the organisation.

I know that the service has many committed staff who wish to be part of a strong, mutually respectful, and effective team delivering the best possible care to all patients.

I look forward to working with them to put in place the key structures, processes, and culture and behaviours necessary to drive improvement, openness and transparency.

This will enable patients and carers in Jersey to be assured that the quality and safety of the care they receive compares favourably with other health systems elsewhere in the world.”

The current Health and Community Services Department Board has been disbanded and the members have been informed.