Extension of appointments to the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery

The appointments of the Chairperson and eight board members of the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) have been extended for a further term.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, has extended the terms of appointment of the Chair (Mrs Maureen Griffith), and eight members of the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) namely, Professor Jennifer Boore; Ms Thelma Corey; Dr Sara Magee; Mrs Dolores McCormick; Mr Iain McGowan; Mrs Maria O’Hare; Mrs Pat Patten and Mr Michael Rea.

The appointments have been extended to 6 October 2010.

Notes to Editors:

1. The overall aim of NIPEC is to support and contribute to the professional development of nurses and midwives to enable them to play a proactive and responsive role in the delivery of high quality health and social care services. NIPEC supports nursing and midwifery services across all care sectors.

2. The board of NIPEC consists of a Chair, a Chief Executive and not more than 14 members. There are two categories of membership. Sixty per cent of the membership must be on the live professional nursing and midwifery register and the remaining 40% is made up of lay members (that is any person who is not and never has been a registered nurse or midwife).

3. Members of NIPEC do not receive any remuneration, but are eligible to receive travelling expenses.

4. The appointments were made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. There are no specific qualifications for appointment.

5. The extensions of appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointment for Northern Ireland.

6. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. None of the appointees declared that they had engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

7. Appointments:

• Mrs Maureen Griffith lives in Coleraine. She has worked in the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) since 1966 in a wide variety of settings and is currently employed by the recently established Public Health Agency. Prior to this she was Assistant Director of Nursing and Consumer Services of the Northern Health and Social Services Board. She has attained a Masters Degree in Business Administration and is a member of the Institute of Health Services Management and the Women's Senior Executive Forum. Mrs Griffith was initially appointed as Chair of NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Professor Jennifer Boore OBE (Professional Member) lives in Portstewart, Co Londonderry. She was appointed as the first Professor and Head of the Department of Nursing at the University of Ulster in 1984 and having retired in September 2008, now holds the title of Emeritus Professor of Nursing of the University of Ulster. Professor Boore was a non executive member of the National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting from 1997 until 2002. She has a record of achievement in the field of nursing, higher education and research and was elected as Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing in 1993. In 1996 she was awarded an OBE for services to nursing. Professor Boore was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Ms Thelma Corey (Professional Member) lives in Banbridge, Co Down. She is currently employed as a Mental Health Support Services Manager in the Southern Health & Social Care Trust and is a Mental Health Member of the Chief Nurse Advisory Committee (CNAC) at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Ms Corey has previously held nursing posts in the legacy South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust and with the NI Prison Service. Ms Corey is a volunteer member of the local Lourdes committee. Ms Corey was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Dr Sara Magee (Lay Member) lives in Londonderry. Dr Magee retired in April 2008, from Altnagelvin Hospitals Health and Social Services (HSS) Trust, as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. She has been involved in nurse and medical education since 1977 and was the first clinical director of the Women’s and Children’s Directorate within Altnagelvin Hospitals HSS Trust. Dr Magee has been involved for the past 20 years in the Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes and for the past 10 years has been the Medical Director. She has been a member of Soroptimist International for many years, an organisation for today's professional and business women and was a past president of the Derry Soroptimist Club. Dr Magee was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mrs Dolores McCormick RGN MA (Professional Member) lives in Toomebridge. She is a self employed management consultant and until October 2008 was employed as a Senior Quality Reviewer with the Health and Personal Social Services Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority. She is a registered general nurse and has previously held management positions with a range of private nursing home organisations. Mrs McCormick was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mr Iain McGowan BSc Hons (Professional Member) lives in Bangor. Mr McGowan has been employed as a lecturer in nursing at the University of Ulster, Magee Campus for the last seven years and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in nurse education. He is a registered Mental Health Nurse and is currently studying for a PhD in Health Sciences. Mr McGowan was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mrs Maria O’Hare (Lay Member) lives in Warrenpoint. Mrs O’Hare has extensive experience working in a voluntary capacity and is currently involved with Bereavement Counselling Service with the Southern Area Hospice. For the past two years she has been working with Afrikids an English fund-raising charity based in North East Ghana. Mrs O'Hare previously held posts as a drug registration officer with Norbrook Laboratories (1983-1985) and as a medical liaison officer with Sterling Winthorpe (1981-1983). Mrs O’Hare was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mrs Pat Patten OBE (Lay Member) lives in Belfast. She retired in 2001 from her position as Acting Director of the Institute of Continuing Education and Senior Lecturer with Queen’s University Belfast. She has had close association with medical, nursing and social work education throughout her career at Queen’s. Mrs Patten is currently working as a volunteer with children’s charities concerned with adoption, fostering, child witnesses and children at risk. Mrs Patten was originally appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. She does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
• Mr Michael Rea OBE (Lay Member) lives in Helen’s Bay. Mr Rea has extensive experience in the field of education and was a former teacher. Until his retirement in August 2001 he was a senior officer with the Belfast Education and Library Board. From 2003 to 2008 he was an Equality Commissioner with the Equality Commission for NI. Since 2003 he has been a member of the Board of Governors at Campbell College. Mr Rea was initially appointed to NIPEC from 7 October 2002. He does not hold any other public appointments and has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

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