Appointment of a Non-Executive Chair of the Patient and Client Council
Date published:
The Department of Health today announced the appointment of Ms Christine Collins as the new non-executive Chair to the Patient and Client Council (PCC) Board
Ms Collins’ appointment will begin on 1 March 2019 and will run for a maximum of 4 years.
This appointment was made with the approval of the Department of Health. There are no specific qualifications for appointment.
The Non-Executive Chair of the Patient and Client Council receives an annual remuneration of £17,342 for a time commitment of 1.5 days per week.
The PCC, which is established under Section 16(1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009, is a regional body supported by five local offices operating within the same geographical areas covered by the five health and social care trusts and local commissioning groups. The overarching objective of the PCC is to provide a powerful, independent voice for patients, clients, carers, and communities on health and social care issues.
The appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. Ms Collins declared that she had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
Notes to editors:
- Ms Christine Collins MBE retired from the Civil Service in 2005 and since this time has immersed herself in the world of human rights, equality and advocacy with a particular focus on those living with disability and/or rare disease. Christine was the founding Chair of the Northern Ireland Rare Disease Partnership; and a Patient Public Voice representative on the UK Rare Disease Advisory Group. She is a Northern Ireland Member of the UK Rare Disease Forum and is actively involved in the development and implementation of both the UK and Northern Ireland Rare Disease plans.
- Christine was a Commissioner at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission from 2011 to 2017.
- She is currently a member of the Duty of Candour Work Stream, part of the Inquiry into Hyponatremia Related Deaths Implementation programme.
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