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Meet The Team
The healthcare planners of today
Iain Buchan
Managing Director
Iain is an accomplished Healthcare Consultant, Healthcare Planner and Organisational Development/Change Management Consultant. Prior to forming Buchan + Associates, 25 years ago, he held a number of positions in senior and executive management within the NHS and Independent Healthcare sectors. Iain has a significant track record of leading healthcare projects as an advisor to the SGHD, Health Boards and Health Authorities and in developing design solutions with construction partners. Working across all Health & Social Care sectors from Tertiary Care to Care Homes, he is committed to enabling person focused, clinically effective and revenue efficient service/design solutions as part of the health and social care service planning process.
Qualifications – Registered Nurse (RN), Dip.N (Lond), WNB 100/920, MBA (Glas)Other Roles – Chair, Scottish Care (2011-2019).
Iain is an accomplished Healthcare Consultant, Healthcare Planner and Organisational Development/Change Management Consultant. Prior to forming Buchan + Associates, 25 years ago, he held a number of positions in senior and executive management within the NHS and Independent Healthcare sectors. Iain has a significant track record of leading healthcare projects as an advisor to the SGHD, Health Boards and Health Authorities and in developing design solutions with construction partners. Working across all Health & Social Care sectors from Tertiary Care to Care Homes, he is committed to enabling person focused, clinically effective and revenue efficient service/design solutions as part of the health and social care service planning process.
Qualifications – Registered Nurse (RN), Dip.N (Lond), WNB 100/920, MBA (Glas)Other Roles – Chair, Scottish Care (2011-2019).
Niall Thomson
Director
With over 18 years healthcare consulting experience Niall joined Buchan + Associates in March 2019 from Capita where he was the UK Health Market Director. Prior to his time at Capita Niall spent nearly 20 years working in a range of senior finance and management roles within NHS Lothian. Niall has extensive experience of supporting whole systems in planning and delivering change as well as a strong track record of working within NHS Scotland and the UK. He has well-developed stakeholder engagement skills and has supported wide ranging and challenging public engagement exercises with a number of clients. Niall also has experience in leading option appraisals across acute, community and primary care settings, including large scale capital projects. Niall has led a number of service change assignments aimed at supporting clients improve service delivery and to enhance clinical effectiveness and cost efficiency.
Qualifications – BA Accountancy; Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA).
With over 18 years healthcare consulting experience Niall joined Buchan + Associates in March 2019 from Capita where he was the UK Health Market Director. Prior to his time at Capita Niall spent nearly 20 years working in a range of senior finance and management roles within NHS Lothian. Niall has extensive experience of supporting whole systems in planning and delivering change as well as a strong track record of working within NHS Scotland and the UK. He has well-developed stakeholder engagement skills and has supported wide ranging and challenging public engagement exercises with a number of clients. Niall also has experience in leading option appraisals across acute, community and primary care settings, including large scale capital projects. Niall has led a number of service change assignments aimed at supporting clients improve service delivery and to enhance clinical effectiveness and cost efficiency.
Qualifications – BA Accountancy; Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA).
Karen Pirrie
Associate Director
Karen is an experienced healthcare consultant with over 18 years of experience working across a range of projects within health and social care. She has led a number of projects delivering convincing proposals for change. With a wide range of skills Karen has undertaken roles including business case development, financial modelling support and lead health planning input. Working across all Health & Social Care sectors from Tertiary Care to Care Homes, she is committed to enabling and implementing modern, clinically led, person centred care models.
Qualifications– BA (Hons) Management Science & Accountancy; Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA); Managing Successful Programme Practitioner (MSP).
Karen is an experienced healthcare consultant with over 18 years of experience working across a range of projects within health and social care. She has led a number of projects delivering convincing proposals for change. With a wide range of skills Karen has undertaken roles including business case development, financial modelling support and lead health planning input. Working across all Health & Social Care sectors from Tertiary Care to Care Homes, she is committed to enabling and implementing modern, clinically led, person centred care models.
Qualifications– BA (Hons) Management Science & Accountancy; Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA); Managing Successful Programme Practitioner (MSP).
Gillian Bratt-McManus
Healthcare Planner
Building on a strong process and quality improvement foundation gained in industry, Gill has over 12 years of experience adapting and applying this improvement philosophy in Health and Social Care. With experience of working at strategic Trust, Board and divisional level as well as in local front-line team environments, she tailors the support required according to client need. Gill has led and implemented programmes that have delivered significant financial savings, quality improvements and enhanced patient experience in the NHS in Scotland and England. Gill is a multilingual chartered engineer, with a proven background in delivering impactful performance transformation change in Healthcare.
Qualifications – MEng Product Design Engineering, Chartered engineer (CEng MIMechE), Certified GE Lean SixSigma Blackbelt, ILM level 7 Coach.
Building on a strong process and quality improvement foundation gained in industry, Gill has over 12 years of experience adapting and applying this improvement philosophy in Health and Social Care. With experience of working at strategic Trust, Board and divisional level as well as in local front-line team environments, she tailors the support required according to client need. Gill has led and implemented programmes that have delivered significant financial savings, quality improvements and enhanced patient experience in the NHS in Scotland and England. Gill is a multilingual chartered engineer, with a proven background in delivering impactful performance transformation change in Healthcare.
Qualifications – MEng Product Design Engineering, Chartered engineer (CEng MIMechE), Certified GE Lean SixSigma Blackbelt, ILM level 7 Coach.
Lawrence Lewis
Analyst
Lawrence is an experienced Data Analyst providing project support including capacity planning, schedules of accommodation and data critical inputs. He has over 16 years’ experience in the health and social care sectors providing financial management, data analyst, payroll and HR expertise. In addition, Lawrence has over 30 years Management Accounting experience in several areas, including the Healthcare and Automotive sectors. Lawrence has a track record of providing in-depth financial and data analytical support to delivery team members, enabling clients to fully understand data outputs.
Lawrence is an experienced Data Analyst providing project support including capacity planning, schedules of accommodation and data critical inputs. He has over 16 years’ experience in the health and social care sectors providing financial management, data analyst, payroll and HR expertise. In addition, Lawrence has over 30 years Management Accounting experience in several areas, including the Healthcare and Automotive sectors. Lawrence has a track record of providing in-depth financial and data analytical support to delivery team members, enabling clients to fully understand data outputs.
Sally Riddoch
Associate Consultant
Sally has a background in nursing having previously been responsible for managing Critical Care services across the two District General Hospitals in Fife. She also has extensive experience in Emergency Care, Intensive Care, High Dependency and Operating Theatres. Sally provided a comprehensive review of workforce planning, including all Agenda for Change implications for NHS Fife, before being seconded to the General Hospitals and Maternity Services Project where she provided clinical advice and support as Clinical Lead/Healthcare Planner. Within this role she gained experience of following a major capital project from conception to completion. Since joining B+A, Sally has been advising NHS Grampian on the detail design (1:200, 1:50 and Room Data Sheets) for the Baird Family Hospital, ANCHOR Project and Elective Care Centre.
Qualifications – Registered Nurse (RN), Dip.N (Dundee), Project Management (OU), Clinical Leadership Programme (RCN), Care of the Critically Ill (Napier University).
Sally has a background in nursing having previously been responsible for managing Critical Care services across the two District General Hospitals in Fife. She also has extensive experience in Emergency Care, Intensive Care, High Dependency and Operating Theatres. Sally provided a comprehensive review of workforce planning, including all Agenda for Change implications for NHS Fife, before being seconded to the General Hospitals and Maternity Services Project where she provided clinical advice and support as Clinical Lead/Healthcare Planner. Within this role she gained experience of following a major capital project from conception to completion. Since joining B+A, Sally has been advising NHS Grampian on the detail design (1:200, 1:50 and Room Data Sheets) for the Baird Family Hospital, ANCHOR Project and Elective Care Centre.
Qualifications – Registered Nurse (RN), Dip.N (Dundee), Project Management (OU), Clinical Leadership Programme (RCN), Care of the Critically Ill (Napier University).
Nicola Ruddy
Associate Consultant
Nicola is a senior nurse with 37 years’ experience at a senior level within surgery, medicine, intensive care, theatres, day surgery, pre-admission assessment and care of the elderly in both acute and community settings. A Healthcare planner at B+A, She has acted in the capacity of clinical advisor for business continuity projects within a large acute hospital for 10 years. Her extensive breadth of experience has enabled her to understand the patients’ and service needs and advise confidently on clinical issues relating to all refurbishment and new build projects in this timeframe.
Qualifications: Registered Nurse (RN), Charge Nurse diploma, Dementia Champion and Dementia Environment expert.
Nicola is a senior nurse with 37 years’ experience at a senior level within surgery, medicine, intensive care, theatres, day surgery, pre-admission assessment and care of the elderly in both acute and community settings. A Healthcare planner at B+A, She has acted in the capacity of clinical advisor for business continuity projects within a large acute hospital for 10 years. Her extensive breadth of experience has enabled her to understand the patients’ and service needs and advise confidently on clinical issues relating to all refurbishment and new build projects in this timeframe.
Qualifications: Registered Nurse (RN), Charge Nurse diploma, Dementia Champion and Dementia Environment expert.
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