Media release
04 April 2012
New Director of Public Health appointed
NHS South of England Chief Executive Sir Ian Carruthers OBE today welcomed Dr Yvonne Doyle to
the SHA cluster Board as Director of Public Health for NHS South of England, with immediate effect.
Yvonne has been Director of Public Health for the South of England (East) and has been nationally
recognised for her work on workforce issues and excess seasonal deaths amongst the elderly. She is
also national lead for the Department of Health on cold and hot weather preparedness. She takes
over from Dr Gabriel Scally who stepped down on 31 March.
Commenting on her new role, Yvonne said: “I am delighted to take on this role at an important
juncture for the NHS and public health services.
“I look forward to building on the work that is already taking place to support the transition of public
health functions to local authorities, so that working together the NHS, local authorities and other
partners can ensure the delivery of high quality services that will help improve the health and
wellbeing of people in our local communities.”
Sir Ian Carruthers said: “Yvonne will be a great asset to the NHS South of England Board given her
breadth and depth of knowledge about public health and her comprehensive understanding about
the health challenges within our local areas.”
“Her background in working across government and health and social care organisations will help us
put in place a public health service in the South of England over the coming year that can effectively
address these challenges.“
Dr Doyle’s expertise and interest in the health and wellbeing of older people is also particularly
valuable with this week’s announcement by the Prime Minister about the work that will take place
across health and social care to drive improvements in dementia care. Her range of skills and
expertise will be of great benefit to the health service and local people within the region.
Sir Ian added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Gabriel Scally who has been an
outstanding leader and is one of the titans of Public Health. He has made an immense contribution
over many years in a distinguished career and will be greatly missed by us all. I would like to convey
best wishes to Gabriel and his family for the future”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
•
Dr Yvonne Doyle qualified in 1981 from University College Dublin and her clinical practice
was undertaken in general medicine and preventive cardiology, followed by formal training in public
health medicine.
•
She commenced practice in London in 1989 where she had a joint academic and service post
with a special interest in accident prevention. Since then Yvonne has worked as an academic at Kings
College London, in the private sector as Director of Medical Policy at PPP Healthcare UK and in
senior medical director/public health director posts within the NHS. She has always held a senior
academic attachment concurrent with her research interests.
•
Yvonne has been nationally recognised for her work on workforce issues and excess seasonal
deaths amongst the elderly. She has published work internationally on successful ageing. Yvonne is
also national lead for the Department of Health on cold and hot weather preparedness.
•
For further information contact Helene Feger in the communications team on 01293 778890