Province appoints Health PEI trustee
James Revell is a former board member
Health PEI has appointed a temporary trustee after the agency's board resigned in May.
James Revell will serve in the position, the province announced Friday.
On May 23, the entire Health PEI board resigned, citing concerns with the new Health Services Act.
At that point, all board meetings were postponed until a trustee was appointed.
Revell is a former member of the board and retired from his position in March before the mass resignation in May. When asked he didn't seemed bothered by the controversy.
"I think that going forward not a whole lot will change from the way that it operated in the last eight years," he said.
"I've had those discussions with the minister and also with a couple of other people … we have a very good health authority, thought there were tremendous people on the board through that whole eight year period and I think it's really important that we go forward and things change."
Revell said his priorities going forward are simple.
"This is a 24/7-365 operation with a tremendous number of employees that Islanders count on every day, every day, and so to the extent that I can ensure that that happens — those are my priorities."
'Expertise' to benefit system: Mitchell
Revell is a member of the P.E.I. Law Society and Canadian Bar Association, and a former Health PEI board member.
In a statement, Health and Wellness Minister Robert Mitchell said he was "delighted" Revell agreed to take on the position.
"His expertise, along with his experience, will be of great benefit to the health-care system," Mitchell said.
Seeking new board members
The trustee position is expected to be temporary until a new board can be established.
Meanwhile, the province is seeking applicants with the skill, knowledge and experience necessary to serve on the Health PEI board of directors, Mitchell said.
"Board members create linkages to the community and oversee the day-to-day operation of our health-care system," Mitchell said.
Mitchell said his department is getting a lot of calls about the positions, and that he hopes to have the new board in place in 60 to 90 days.