The Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative is to get a new senior responsible officer.
Ralph Roberts, chief executive of NHS Borders, has served as the SRMC’s chair since the collaborative began its work in 2017. However, he will stand aside in spring 2021, when he will take on new responsibilities with NHS Chief Executives in Scotland.
Ralph was appointed vice-chair of the chief executives’ group at the beginning of August and will take over as chair of the group from 1st April 2021.
He will be succeeded as the collaborative’s SRO by Pamela Dudek, who will take over as chief executive of NHS Highland on 5th October. She and Ralph will ensure a smooth transition as SRO of the collaborative over the next few months.
Announcing his intention to stand down, Ralph said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the SRMC and will continue to follow its progress with interest.
“The collaborative has done much to influence the remote and rural primary care landscape and while recruitment and retention undoubtedly continues to be a challenge I believe that the SRMC has an important role in helping to address this. I know that Pam will bring a wealth of experience to the SRO role and believe it will also be an exciting opportunity to bring new perspectives to the work of the SRMC. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been involved for their work and commitment and wish you all well for the future”
Martine Scott, the SRMC’s programme manager, said: “Ralph has been a tremendous support to me, my project team and everyone involved in the collaborative and I know he will remain as passionate as ever about remote healthcare. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.
“Meanwhile, we are looking forward to working with Pam, who I know will be a worthy successor to our first chair.”
Pam Dudek, who was brought up in rural Angus, joined the NHS aged 16 as a hospital cadet in Kingseat Hospital in Aberdeen and progressed through the ranks following completion of her nurse training in 1987. She went on to hold a number of clinical posts in mental health settings and substance misuse. She then moved into a variety of management and leadership roles in this specific area before branching out into the wider system of health and social care.
Mrs Dudek joined NHS Grampian in 2009 as the long-term conditions programme manager, working cross system and cross agency to delivery improvements at all parts of the pathway. In 2012, she was appointed deputy general manager of Aberdeenshire CHP, including responsibility for primary care across Grampian, before taking up posts as chief officer for Health and Social Care Moray in 2014. In Moray she continued to lead primary care in and out of hours as well as overseeing the integration of health and social care. She was also executive lead for Dr Gray’s Hospital.
Mrs Dudek joined NHS Highland as deputy CEO in April this year and will start as CEO on 5th October.
She said: “Ralph will be a hard act to follow as the collaborative’s senior responsible officer but I know he and his SRMC colleagues have done much to lay the groundwork for the future. I am greatly looking forward to joining the team.”