Release Date :  Monday 28 September 2009

The Scottish Ambulance Service has appointed Pauline Howie as its new Chief Executive with effect from 1 October 2009.

Ms Howie has been acting chief executive since May 2008. She joined the Scottish Ambulance Service as Finance Director in 2000 and has worked in the NHS in Scotland for over fifteen years.

David Garbutt, who was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Ambulance Service in July this year, said:
“The Board is delighted to make this appointment.  The recruitment process attracted a field of very high calibre individuals and Pauline demonstrated that she has the necessary skills and qualities to lead the Service forward and deliver its vision for the future.

“Over the last year Pauline has ensured that the Service achieved challenging performance targets. She has been instrumental in creating a culture of partnership and commitment, throughout the organisation, that will ensure we achieve the best possible standards of care for our patients.”
 
The Scottish Ambulance Service employs 4,000 highly skilled staff and responds to around 600,000 Accident and Emergency calls each year.  The Patient Transport Service takes more than 1.6 million patients to and from hospital appointments and an air ambulance service which flies over 3,000 missions annually.