AN interim chair has been appointed to a Scottish health board which has been plagued by allegations of bullying.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman appointed Professor Boyd Robertson as interim chair of NHS Highland yesterday. It followed the resignation of David Alston, who had held the position since April 2016.
His appointment has been welcomed as “encouraging” by whistleblowing medics and the GMB union.
As interim chair, Robertson will work with chief executive Iain Stewart, who took up his post at the end of January, to lead the future direction of the board.
He is a former principal of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig college, the National Centre for Gaelic Language.
Freeman said: “This is a critical leadership role and Professor Robertson has extensive experience in Scotland’s public life, including senior leadership roles.
“It is vital that NHS Highland, under the direction of Professor Robertson and Iain Stewart, moves forward at pace addressing the known priority areas of improvement required including finance and service delivery and embracing fully the work needed from John Sturrock QC’s review when finalised.
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“The priority, as always across NHS Scotland, is safe and effective patient care, and I am confident that under their leadership people across the Highlands will receive the excellent level of service they deserve.”
A spokesperson for the whistleblowers and the GMB added: “Since August 2018, our group has been raising awareness of a systemic culture of bullying in NHS Highland covering at least a decade.
“When the whistleblowers and the GMB union met with government representatives last November one of our requests was for clear accountability from the leadership of NHS Highland.
“We are encouraged to see the start of that accountability being demonstrated.
They continued: “We also called for an independent review of the culture in NHS Highland. John Sturrock QC has been working on this and we look forward to seeing his review when it is completed.”
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