Permanent Secretary details ‘dissent’ in report

Chairman of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) Dr Patrick Watson yesterday confirmed that the Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Reynold Cooper had expressed “dissent” with the person chosen to fill the post of chief executive officer.

Cooper the PS with responsibility for the RHAs was a member of the interviewing panel which selected Smith as the “preferred candidate.” The PS has submitted a report to Watson detailing the reasons for his dissent with Stewart Smith, who has previous experience with the NWRHA when he worked as Hospital Administrator at St Ann’s Hospital. Responding to a front-page article in yesterday’s Newsday, Watson said the panel had agreed on the candidate and there was unanimous agreement among the Board of Directors. He declined to  confirm Smith as the person chosen by the board. “There was no split at the meeting Tuesday,” said Watson. He said the Board sent its recommendation and the compensation package proposed for the CEO to Health Minister Colm Imbert for approval. Watson hoped that the position would be filled “very soon” but he admitted that it may take time for the candidate to take up the position. He is in favour of a new management system at the NWRHA and said the Board wanted to “put in place a team headed by the best CEO.”