New chairman of Isle of Man's health care body appointed

Wendy Reid has held senior positions in healthcare, academia and as a public servant

The new chairman of Manx Care will play an "invaluable role" in the continued transformation of health and care services, the health minister has said.

Wendy Reid has been appointed to the post following the death of Andrew Foster CBE earlier this year.

Qualifying in 1994, Prof Reid previously worked in obstetrics and gynaecology and held an advisory role for the UK government.

Lawrie Hooper said she would bring "a wealth of experience" to the position.

Mr Foster, who was appointed to the post in September 2020, at the start of the transformation of the island's healthcare services, died following a short illness in March.

'Distinguished'

A recruitment process saw three shortlisted candidates interviewed by a panel that included former NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael, whose 2018 review of the island's health care services led to the creation of Manx Care.

Mr Hooper said Prof Reid had had "long and distinguished" medical career with senior positions in healthcare, academia and as a public servant.

Prof Reid served a term as the vice president at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and worked as medical director and interim chief executive of Health Education England, which provided training for health workers.

Alongside her clinical work, she has held several academic posts such as honorary senior lecturer at University College London and dean of post-graduate medicine of the London Deanery.

The fixed-term appointment by the Department of Health and Social Care, to be held for between three and five years, was made following unanimous support by politicians at the December sitting of Tynwald.

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