New Director-General of Health announced

Health Minister Tony Ryall, and the former Director-General of health Stephen McKernan. File photo / Mark Mitchell

Scottish health boss Kevin Woods has been appointed the Director-General of Health and chief executive of the Ministry of Health, State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie announced today.

Dr Woods is currently the Director-General for Health and chief executive of the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland. He replaces Stephen McKernan, who announced his resignation in March.

Mr Rennie said Dr Woods had held senior health management roles in England and Scotland since 1990.

"Dr Woods is responsible for a budget of over £11 billion ($23.23b), the NHS in Scotland employs over 150,000 staff through 22 NHS boards.

"He has played a leading role in the development of health policy in Scotland and implemented a delivery management system which has helped to secure improved performance by NHS boards," he said.

Dr Woods has a PhD and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in geography from the University of London and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health.

He said he was delighted to be appointed to head the health ministry here.

"I am planning to visit my new colleagues in the near future and look forward to moving to New Zealand and starting my new job."

He will start his three year term early next year.

Labour's state services spokesman Grant Robertson had suggested Mr McKernan may have been forced out of the job, through the Government's decisions on a National Health Board.

But Mr McKernan, who had been in the role since 2006, said he was not pushed from his job.

Andrew Bridgman will continue as acting chief executive until Mr Woods arrives.

- NZPA