Brings wealth of health-related experience
Health charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has revealed its new chair.
Colin Briggs who is director of strategic planning for NHS Lothian will oversee the organisation’s board of trustees.
Briggs’s brings to the role years of health-related experience through employment and volunteering.
He has 24 years of NHS management experience under his belt which includes 15 years of running hospitals and GP services.
In addition to his NHS role, Briggs has been chair of Penumbra Mental Health for over two years.
Briggs said: “I’ve always been very conscious of the importance of public service, and it motivated me to pursue a career in the public sector also.”
As well as his extensive professional experience in the healthcare sector, Briggs has personal experience of the conditions CHSS supports.
He explained: “My maternal grandmother had a stroke when she was 53 and as a result she lost her fine motor skills.
“My other grandmother had COPD in the last few years of her life and I’ve got a very good friend that has Long Covid. I have been very impressed with the innovations CHSS is making in that field with its work to provide support services and tailored resources to help people self-manage their condition.”
With his work in NHS Lothian Briggs has witnessed first-hand what the third sector can do for people.
He said: “When an organisation like CHSS has a level of influence in the sector it’s really important and it can open doors. I’m keen to help Jane-Claire and the team do more of what they’re good at.
“The third sector can be much more innovative and creative and that appeals to me. For example, the self-management work CHSS does is going to be vital for prevention and recovery.
“Taking on the role of chair feels like a really good fit for me. CHSS is full of staff and volunteers who are professional and able and that’s really inspiring. I’ve been really impressed so far. I’m excited to get started.”
Jane-Claire Judson, chief executive of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Colin Briggs as our new Chair of the board of trustees.
“Colin is joining CHSS at an exciting time as we make progress on the second phase of our No Life Half Lived strategy which aims to support 175,000 people a year by 2028 through our self-management and community recovery model.
“Colin brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in health services, strategic planning and delivery which will benefit us in our aims to support the 1 in 5 people across Scotland with chest, heart, stroke and long covid conditions to live life to the full.”
