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Scotland's first patient safety commissioner nominated

Scottish Parliament A headshot picture of Karen Titchener wearing a flowery top and smilingScottish Parliament
Karen Titchener, who has more than two decades of senior leadership experience within the NHS, has been nominated as Scotland's first Patient Safety Commissioner

Scotland's first ever Patient Safety Commissioner is set to be appointed.

Experienced healthcare executive Karen Titchener will take up the role after two previous recruitment drives for the £93,094-a-year role failed.

The law creating the new independent public advocate for NHS patients was passed in 2023.

MSPs will be asked to approve Mrs Titchener's nomination to His Majesty the King on 15 May and she is expected to start the role in September.

The new post will be independent of both government and the health service.

The recruitment process for the role, which runs for an eight-year term, was handled by the Scottish Parliament.

Mrs Titchener is currently working in the United States in a senior role for a 'hospital at home' programme.

Prior to this she had more than two decades of senior leadership experience within the UK health service.

This included a role in NHS London where she was part of the team which delivered the world's first reported 'oncology at home' programme delivering acute care in patients' homes.

There has been a patient safety commissioner in England since 2022.