Doctor Wai-yin Hatton set for retirement

Oct 14 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

NHS Ayrshire and Arran chief executive Doctor Wai-yin Hatton is set to retire.

The health chief will step down from her role in March next year.

She will be replaced by John Burns, who joins the health board from NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Mr Burns has also held the position of Director of Health Services.

He started his career in the health service at Tayside Health Board in 1983 and has held several positions throughout Scotland before taking up the post as Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust in 2001.

Professor William Stevely CBE, Chairman of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board explains: “John Burns brings a wealth of experience of the NHS, and has been responsible for leading and integrating services across the region.”

Mr Burns has chaired a range of national work programmes including financial shared services, review of cervical cytology laboratory services and the implementation board for the managed services network for children and young people's cancer.

Mr Burns is originally from St Andrews in Fife, and is married with two children.

Professor Stevely added: “John was appointed out of a very strong field of candidates after a rigorous interview process.

“We are confident that John will be a worthy successor to Dr Hatton, with a strong commitment to safe, quality, patient-centred services.

“On behalf of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, I would like to convey our personal and professional thanks to Dr Hatton for her significant contribution to health care throughout her long career in the NHS.”

Dr Wai-yin Hatton describes the role as creating an environment to succeed.

She joined the NHS in 1974 with Sunderland Area Health Authority.

She has since worked in a variety of challenging posts in different sectors in the healthcare field in Wales, London, Essex, Suffolk and Birmingham.

She contributes to the development of health services in Scotland by serving on a number of national and regional committees.

Dr Hatton also chairs the Scottish Government’s diversity task force and is joint chair of the securing care for ethnic elders in Scotland Steering Group.

Furthermore she holds a public appointment as a non-executive member of SportScotland, is a board member of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Kilmarnock College and is Chair of the Ayrshire Sportsability Trust.

The karate enthusiast lives with her husband and her cat in Ayrshire, looking out on the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran. In her retirement she is looking forward to indulging in her hobbies – travelling, good food, great wine and fitness training.