A new appointment, made jointly by Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland, is one of the first in Scotland to bring health and social care services together under one director.
Simon Bokor-Ingram has been appointed to a new post as Director of Community Health and Social Care by a joint panel consisting of NHS Board Members and Shetland Islands Council elected Members. He will lead the integration of health and social care services in Shetland. He was appointed following what's described as a “vigorous” two-day recruitment exercise that was the first of its kind in involving representatives from both organisations.
Mr. Bokor-Ingram made the move to Shetland in 2008. Previously, he had worked in the NHS for most of his career, in a number of hospitals and in a Primary Care Trust in the south of England. Until now, he has been Director of Clinical Services for NHS Shetland and has also spent the past few months acting as Interim Director of Community Care for the SIC.
Chair of SIC's Social Services Committee, Councillor Cecil Smith, welcomed the appointment, adding: “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.” Speaking on behalf of NHS Shetland, Chief Executive Ralph Roberts said he was “extremely pleased” at the 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.”