Place in the history books for local man

Following forty years of service in the health sector in Northern Ireland, Lisburn man John Compton is due to retire next year.

Mr Compton, who is currently the Chief Executive of The Health and Social Care Board, was also the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Mr Compton took up his current post as Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board when it was formed in 2009. The Board arranges or ‘commissions’ health and social care services for the entire population of Northern Ireland and accounts for around £4 billion of expenditure every year.

He qualified in social work in 1976 after graduating from Queen’s University and worked in a number of posts across Lisburn and Belfast. It was during this time that Mr Compton co-ordinated the social work response for Northern Ireland during the Kegworth air disaster in 1989.

He held a series of social care posts within the former Eastern Health and Social Service Board before his appointment to senior executive management roles with the former Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust. He has a long association with the Downpatrick area working in Down Lisburn from 1990 – 2006, and saw through many changes to healthcare in Downpatrick during that time.

Changes to the Health and Social services under the Review of Public Administration saw Mr Compton take the helm as Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust in 2006, a post he held until 2009.

Outside of his leading roles within the health and social services, Mr Compton, is the proud father to three grown up daughters and has five grandchildren. He is also a keen sportsman. He has played and refereed rugby at a senior level, and has completed numerous long distance running events and marathons.

Commenting on his retirement, Mr Compton said: “Throughout my career I have done my best to try and ensure that people can receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. I have had the privilege of working with many dedicated professionals throughout this time who have made an outstanding contribution to changing Health and Social Care for the better.”

Health Minister and Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots thanked Mr Compton for his years of hard work. “Through his strong leadership and his deep understanding of the issues, John Compton has written a place for himself in the history of health and social care in Northern Ireland,” he said.