Public Health Agency role for Mayor of Mid and East Antrim

Mr Ashe will serve for a second four-year term with the agency, which was established to provide a renewed and enhanced focus on public health and wellbeing by bringing together a wide range of functions under one organisation.

Appointments to the PHA are made with the approval of the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Members receive annual remuneration of £9,004 for a time commitment of five days per month.

Mr Ashe has 18 years of experience as a local government elected member.

The DUP representative has been actively involved in a number of community projects, including those for people suffering with learning difficulties. He currently serves on the Northern Zone Social Investment Fund.

A multi-disciplinary, multi-professional body, with a strong regional and local presence, the PHA’s board is made up of four executive directors including the chief executive, a non-executive chair and seven non-executive directors. The latter include a trade union representative, two local government members, a finance member and three lay members.

The agency is tasked with creating better inter-sectoral working, including enhanced partnership with local government and tackling the underlying causes of poor health and reduce health inequalities.

The four key functions of the PHA are: health and social wellbeing improvement; health protection; public health support and policy development; and health and social care research and development.