A long-standing Lanarkshire consultant in public health has been appointed as Director of Public Health and Health Policy for the board.

Josephine Pravinkumar, who rejoined NHS Lanarkshire in 2009 after a spell working as a consultant in Ayrshire and Arran, will lead Lanarkshire’s public health directorate tasked with health protection, health improvement and health service development for the 665,000 people living in the region.

Doctor Pravinkumar says she is delighted to take on the role which, for the time being, she says will dominated by the huge impact that the pandemic has had on individuals, families and communities:

“There has been a tremendous response by people across Lanarkshire in relation to care homes, health and social care, nurseries, schools and colleges, workplaces, hospitality venues and other social settings.

“People have been making sacrifices in their personal and working lives for nearly two years and have been, in the vast majority of situations, keeping informed about developments and making responsible decisions about their behaviour including testing, vaccination and taking steps to reduce the spread of infection.

“The NHS Lanarkshire public health team has worked closely with covid-19 community champions to get a better understanding of the experience that people in local communities have been having as the response to the pandemic has progressed. This joint working has influenced the way in which information and services have been provided in order to try to meet people’s needs as well as possible.

“The pandemic has also underlined more than ever the importance and urgency of addressing various public health challenges, especially inequalities.”

NHS Lanarkshire has been particularly hard-hit by high case numbers and staff absences with additional military support agreed for the board, alongside NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Grampian, last month.

Just before Christmas, the Director of Health and Social Care in South Lanarkshire used his Christmas message to ask the public to show kindness and patience to staff facing what he called “relentless pressures”.

Yesterday the board appealed directly to families to take in relatives whose discharge from hospital is being delayed by difficulties finding a care home place or care at home package - repeating a call it first made in October when it said Lanarkshire's hospitals were reaching “maximum capacity”.

Dr Pravinkumar said the pandemic has impacted Lanarkshire’s pre-covid public health priorities, including mental wellbeing, health in early childhood, making communities safe and healthy and reducing harm from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

“Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the population and provides a major opportunity for public health services to make a difference by improving and promoting health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities - the unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health across social groups and between different population groups.”

NHS Lanarkshire Chief Executive Heather Knox has welcomed Dr Pravinkumar’s appointment:

“Having had the pleasure of working closely with Josephine over many years, I am delighted that someone of Josephine’s experience and ability has taken up this crucial role.

“We look forward to moving ahead with our vital public health agenda under her leadership.”

 

Read more: Festive plea for kindness to staff; NHS board asks relatives to help “free up” beds; Former MSP to join major health board.

 

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