A NEW Director of Public Health has been officially appointed by NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
Valerie White is delighted to take on the permanent role following a formal recruitment process involving the Board, Scottish Government and Faculty of Public Health colleagues.
Valerie has worked closely with Health and Social Care teams and resilience partners to lead the region’s response to the pandemic.
Valerie said “It is a huge privilege to be appointed as Director of Public Health for NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
“COVID-19 has really brought home to us that protecting and improving our populations health is everybody’s business.
“Sadly, we are still in a pandemic situation, which will require us all to continue to follow Scottish Government guidance and need ongoing monitoring and management to keep the virus suppressed.
“However, the vaccination programme is progressing at pace and brings us much needed hope along with the easing of restrictions.
“Few of us have ever experienced anything like this pandemic, and as we move towards recovery there will be significant Public Health issues that we will face and just like with COVID-19 our recovery needs the public, private and third sectors to work together with our local communities to address them.
“I very much look forward to supporting our region’s recovery – as it is with great pride that I call Dumfries and Galloway home.”
Chief Executive Jeff Ace said “Valerie took on the interim DPH role just before the start of the pandemic and has played a key role in our delivery of the test and protect programme that helped to suppress the virus in the region.
“She has been an inspirational colleague through some really tense months, and I am absolutely delighted that she has been successful in appointment to the permanent role.
“We are very lucky to have a DPH of Valerie’s calibre in the Board as we move out of the pandemic and into our wider recovery.”
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