The Manx NHS has a new interim chief executive following the sudden resignation of its top two officials.

Angela Murray, currently director of community care at the Department of Health and Social Care, is to take over as chief executive at the department on an interim basis.

Her appointment was made by Health Minister David Ashford following the resignation of Dr Malcolm Couch as CEO.

Dr Couch resigned with immediate effect, apparently to explore new opportunities.

His departure came just days before Sir Jonathan Michael published the full report of his independent review of the island’s health and care services.

His hard-hitting report recommends wide-ranging reform and pulls no punches in its criticism of the current regime, highlighting a dearth of data on quality, performance and costs and a culture of mediocrity.

It calls for the creation of a new delivery organisation for health and social care services, separate from the body which sets policies and priorities.

Manx Care would be responsible for the delivery and commissioning from other providers and would operate at arm’s length from government and Tynwald.

The Health Minister said he was confident that Ms Murray will hit the ground running.

He said: ’Angela is an extremely able member of the department’s senior leadership team and has led the community care directorate with skill, imagination and humanity.

’She has worked in public health systems for almost her entire career and her experience as a leader and as a practitioner, both on and off the island, will serve us very well. She is admired and trusted by colleagues across the department.

’Angela understands the myriad of complex issues the island is facing, across the spheres of health and social care.

Promoted

’She has played a key role in developing our integrated care strategy which will be crucial going forward, and has worked closely on a number of projects with other departments.’

Ms Murray joined the department in 2015 as interim director for mental health, a position subsequently made permanent.

She was promoted to director of community care when several divisions were brought together under a new directorate during a restructure of DHSC in 2018.

She trained here in the 1980s and began her career as a registered mental health nurse, gaining a qualification in forensic mental health.

Ms Murray went on to various roles in the NHS around the UK for more than 18 years, latterly in a health commissioning role at Calderdale, before moving back to the Isle of Man.

Deputy chief executive Michaela Morris resigned with immediate effect on the same day as Dr Couch.

The DHSC said the role and responsibilities of this post are being reviewed and further announcements will be made shortly.