A former boss of the Manx NHS, who quit his job after less than a year, has landed a new role – 5,000 miles away in the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena.
Mark Charters was appointed to head up the newly merged Department of Health and Social Care in July 2014. But last June it was announced he had quit as chief executive for personal reasons.
Now he has been appointed director of safeguarding for the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, famous as the place of Napoleon’s exile.
Its lifeline to the rest of the world is RMS St Helena, which takes five days to sail from Cape Town. The opening of a new £250m airport has been postponed indefinitely over safety concerns involving dramatic changes in ground windspeed and direction.
While head of the Manx NHS, Mr Charters spearheaded a new strategy of integrated healthcare. He and Health Minister Howard Quayle came in for much criticism when they travelled to New Zealand on a fact-finding mission.
Mr Charters said of his new appointment: ‘When I look back at my career it has been the team, the people, the professional family, that all pull together in the same direction that has been the difference between a good service and a great service. From the most junior to the most senior, we all belong to one team, and I hope to bring that ethos to St Helena.’