Well Jack, I can agree with quite a lot of what you put.

My appointment as a local Chairman was after answering an advert and being interviewed just like a job. (But no employment rights.) For that, my selling points were how to be trusted with the budget, be trusted to hold the executive to account for turning that budget into tangible healthcare. How to run a corporate board. My background prior to my business life, miner, rep, sales manager, folk singer (lest I forget..) didn't enter into it.

the novelty came when I was asked to be an advisor. An advisor as a result of my chairmanship, but I reckon the ex miner bit which I had slipped out when he visited us may have given him the novelty. Didn't stop me from accepting the (unpaid) post.

The trick wasn't to know how a radiographer does their job, any more than a porter needs to know the difference between standing orders and standing financial instructions. There was however a brief for leadership, which did entail learning a bit about the position of healthcare professionals. I expected a medical director to articulate doctor issues, (although being married to a doctor, I got it (still get it) in my ear over breakfast.) I expected a director of nursing to articulate what we could expect that profession to deliver. Etc Etc. There is a huge difference between credibility through peer and credibility through knowing how to perform your role. If I were a porter, the doctors wouldn't see me as a peer, and vice versa. (Trust me, one thing I have found in The NHS is how each profession feels theirs is the glue holding it together.)

My role was, as ever, non executive.

Interestingly, regarding your point about jobs for the boys, the last government set up an independent appointments commission in 2002 to ensure Ministers don't appoint cronies. I didn't declare any political affiliations when I was appointed by a Minister, and considering my disappointment with Bliar, I doubt I could be called a NuLabour crony.....

This government has abolished the independent commission, on the quango bonfire.... From next year, any non executive appointments will be direct from Ministers, just like my original one. And that is not good... I was interviewed in the September and the minister got around to opening the red box and signing it the following February. I had almost forgot...