Julian has publicly welcomed the appointment of the new Chief Executive of the NHS Trust responsible for Ripon Hospital in the House of Commons.
Speaking in Women and Equalities Questions on Thursday, Mr Smith paid tribute to Ros Tolcher, the new leader of the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, and said her appointment was an important example of women being appointed to lead public sector organisations.
The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which serves patients through The Friarage in Northallerton, also has a female Chief Executive, Professor Tricia Hart, as does Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which serves patients in Craven, in Bridget Fletcher.
He said:
“Does the Minister agree that as well as board appointments, it is vital that we have more women chief executives in public sector roles? Will she pay tribute to Ros Tolcher, who has become the chief executive of Harrogate hospital, which serves part of my constituency, taking to 100% the female leadership of NHS hospitals supporting Skipton and Ripon?”
In response, Women and Equalities Minister Jo Swinson said:
“I certainly support the hon. Gentleman in congratulating the excellent senior women delivering public services in his local health care system. It is important that we have women on boards but also in executive roles. We have been making progress on this in the private sector, although there is clearly a lot more to be done there as well. The executive challenge has perhaps been a slightly more difficult nut to crack at the same speed at which we have been able to improve the numbers of women on boards more generally. The work we are doing to improve the pipeline support for women in the workplace is absolutely vital.”
The full text of the debate is at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141016/debtext/141016-0001.htm#141016-0001.htm_spnew103.