Decision

Summary of business appointment applications - Dr Felicity Harvey

Updated 20 June 2018

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/harvey-felicity-dg-for-public-and-international-health-department-of-health-acoba-recommendation/summary-of-business-appointment-applications-dr-felicity-harvey

Dr Felicity Harvey left her role as DG for Public and International Health at the Department of Health, in June 2016.

1. Non-executive Director at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Harvey sought advice on taking up an appointment as non-executive director at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust. The role is part-time (approximately three days per month) and paid. It is not likely to include any contact or dealings with the Department of Health or with government more generally.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that Dr Harvey has had some limited official dealings with the Trust but as she has not been involved in any decisions affecting the Trust, the Committee does not consider that the appointment could be perceived as a reward.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that the appointment should be subject to the following conditions:

  • she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time in Crown service;

  • for two years from her last day in Crown service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust or make use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of the Trust.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in September 2016 and the appointment was taken up later that month.

2. Non-executive Director, Mediclinic

Dr Harvey sought advice on taking up an appointment as Non-executive Director of the main Board at Mediclinic and as Member of a sub-committee: the Clinical Performance and Sustainability Board.

The Committee noted the Dr Harvey’s former department Department of Health (DH), through Healthcare UK, met Mediclinic in 2015, but there is no relationship beyond this. DH confirmed Dr Harvey had no official dealings with Mediclinic whilst in office; and had no involvement in policy discussion relating to private healthcare providers.

The Committee also noted Dr Harvey will be working within the same sector and has spent a number of years in senior roles in Government. Therefore, the Committee drew attention to the conditions imposed which make clear that any use of contacts gained while in office to benefit Mediclinic would be inappropriate.

The Prime Minister accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules, this appointment be subject to the following conditions:

  • she should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of herself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to her from her time in Crown service; and

  • for two years from her last day in Crown service, she should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Mediclinic International, its partners or its clients, nor should she make use, directly or indirectly, of her contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy, or secure business or funding on behalf of Mediclinic International, its partners or its clients.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in September 2017 and the appointment was taken up the following month.

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