SWAHSN chair retires
Our chair Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen MBE will step down in May 2015 after successfully supporting the organisation through its first two years of set up.
Andrew said: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed helping to establish the SWAHSN, which I think has already proven itself to be indispensable to the healthcare system in the South West, and is on its way to becoming a body which can facilitate real opportunities for the improvement and sustainability of that system for present and future generations.
‘Alongside my work for the South West Academic Health Science Network, I am Chair of the Private Healthcare Information Network, Specialist Medical Advisor to Healthcare UK, based at UK Trade and Investment, and Senior Independent Director at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. I feel it’s now time for me to leave the SWAHSN as it thrives and moves into the next phase of its life.’
Andrew trained as a surgeon in Newcastle. He joined the British Medical Association in 1983 and, during 11 years, held the posts of Scottish Secretary and Head of Policy Development. He became the Medical Director of Bupa Hospitals in 1994 and was promoted to Group Chief Medical Officer in 1995. He retired from Bupa aged 60 in 2012. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the 2014 Birthday Honours, for services to healthcare.
Current board member Richard Devereaux-Phillips will become acting chair of the SWAHSN. He lives in Plymouth and is currently Director of Public Policy and Advocacy (North West Europe) for Becton, Dickinson and Company which is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices and diagnostic tests. He is due to take up a senior executive role at the Association of British Healthcare Industries later this year.
