NHS Forth Valley has a new Employee Director, Robert Clarke, who has taken over from Tom Hart who retired recently.
Robert began his career in NHS Forth Valley in 1985 working as a relief plaster technician before moving to Theatres as a theatre orderly. He then undertook the Operating Department Practitioner course, qualified in 1989, and has worked in Theatres since then.
His involvement with the trade union movement began in 1985 and he became a Unison steward in 1990. He has also served as Branch Secretary for the Stirling Royal Infirmary and latterly the Forth Valley Health branches of Unison.
Robert, who is a strong supporter of the NHS and a passionate believer in partnership working, fairness and equality, has served on NHS Forth Valley’s Acute Services Partnership Forum and the Area Partnership Forum for many years.
He began his new role following the departure of Tom Hart, a ‘weel-kent’ face throughout the organisation. Tom, a registered nurse for learning disabilities, had worked in NHS Forth Valley for more than 40 years. He joined COHSE, the Confederation of Health Service Employees, in 1972 and over the years undertook a variety of roles. When Unison came into being in 1994 he was elected Branch Secretary of what was then Primary Care. He was elected to the post of Employee Director in 2004 and became known by staff as an ‘all-round nice guy’.
