Isle of Man Government Appoints Two Senior Public Health Officials

The Isle of Man government has announced the recruitment of two public health specialists from the United Kingdom to fill key positions. Matt Tyrer has assumed the role of director of public health, having previously held a comparable position at Cheshire East Council. He succeeds Hugo van Woerden, who served as interim director following Henrietta Ewart’s departure in May 2022. Additionally, Ross Keat is set to join the island’s public health directorate as a consultant in November, and will also act as Dr. Tyrer’s deputy as required. Dr. Keat is presently employed by Knowsley Council on Merseyside and holds a fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. His responsibilities at the council include leading health protection initiatives, which encompass the oversight of vaccinations, screening programs, tobacco cessation efforts, and oral and sexual health services. A government statement characterized the island’s newly appointed director of public health as a “trained doctor with more than a decade of public health experience.” He guided the Cheshire team during the Covid pandemic, presided over the Cheshire and Merseyside Public Health Collaborative, and serves as an honorary lecturer in public health at Keele University. Dr. Tyrer commented: “I want to bring my passion for improving health and wellbeing to this spectacular and unique island community.“I firmly believe that we can do things now that will make things better for ourselves, our children and generations to come and I look forward to working to create a healthy and happy future for the Isle of Man.”