6th December 2016
Today we welcome Shane Devlin to NIAS as our new Chief Executive.
Shane joins us from Belfast Health and Social Care Trust from whom we are hearing great things about him and detecting a sense of loss because he has left them to join us – a classic “their loss is our gain”.
Shane brings to us 18 years of management experience in Health and the experience of having led on a number of organisational change projects designed to improve patient care.
Hailing from Craigavon, Shane is married with two children who help keep his feet firmly on the ground. Away from the pressures of the job, Shane likes nothing more than a round of golf although, by his own admission, he hasn’t been able, despite his great experience in developing strategies, to develop one good enough to improve his game.
Not one for letting the grass grow under his feet, Shane has said “I really look forward to spending the next number of months getting out and about and meeting as many of the people who work in the Service as possible so as to understand the challenges that are faced and to build, in partnership, the plans for the future.”
He also had this to say to anyone who uses, or may have to use, our Service;
“Like you all I have, until now, watched the ambulance service from afar and marvelled at the work they do and the dedication they possess. I too have seen the news reports about the challenges they face in terms of workload, meal breaks, late finishes and assaults by those who just do not appreciate the help they are being given. Now I am no longer a spectator – I am their Chief Executive. I want to see what extra impetus I can bring to the work that is ongoing so that, in partnership, we can resolve these issues to ensure that the staff you see now can maintain their love for the job so that patients that will continue to benefit. I honestly see it as an honour and privilege to have been given this role and I intend to give it my all.”
In the video below, Shane reflects on his first day in NIAS.