Garry Coutts

Chair of Court

Garry Coutts served for six years as university rector before becoming chair of court in summer 2014.

Garry was previously chair of NHS Highland for ten years.  During this period he led the organisation in integrating health and social care in a unique partnership with The Highland Council.  The results of this integration are impressive, seeing fewer frail elderly people spending lengthy periods in hospital and instead being cared for in their own homes or other homely settings.

Garry also led the development of the Highland Quality Approach which aims to put the quality of care at the centre of all service design.  The belief is that, by providing high-quality person-centred services, not only will the NHS provide an excellent experience for their patients and clients but also achieve better efficiency.  NHS Highland is working with internationally renowned partners in developing this approach including the Institute of Healthcare Improvement in Boston and the Virginia Masson clinic in Seattle.

Garry is chair of Children's Hearings Scotland which supports the thousands of volunteers who sit on children's panels in Scotland.  Previously he also chaired the Scottish Social Services Council and was an elected councillor in both Highland and Edinburgh.