AN island health board boss has defended making a 250-mile round trip between his home and place of work despite the coronavirus travel restrictions.
Iain Stewart, the incoming chief executive of NHS Orkney, lives in Culbokie on the Black Isle and has made the journey between there and Kirkwall on numerous occasions at weekends, describing the trips as “essential”.
Now Stewart – the former head of NHS Highland – has released an open letter to the people of Orkney in response to criticism of his travelling.
He said: “As the chief executive designate of NHS Orkney I am fully aware of the expectation that is placed upon me by the Scottish Government, NHS Orkney Board and the people of Orkney.
“I have returned to my home on the mainland on a few occasions since March 1, 2020, only when my family has needed me.
“The board of NHS Orkney were aware of these journeys. The board is clear that being an island health board, we simply could not function without movement of staff on and off the island. This applies to all of our staff groups right across the system of health and social care.”
He said the Scottish Government had supported the arrangement and had stated: “While he is working, the chief executive stays in accommodation provided by NHS Orkney – this is not treated as a first or second home for the purposes of the current travel restrictions. Staff can therefore travel to and from their family or principal home, when not working.
“The chair, Meghan McEwen, has looked into the issue and is satisfied that Iain Stewart has acted reasonably and within the terms of the national guidance.”
Stewart also addressed claims that some members of his family had been visiting him on Orkney, but said that was not the case and only his daughter – a student nurse at the Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall – had been staying with him in his temporary accommodation.
He added: “I would, however, like to take this opportunity to offer the people of Orkney a sincere heartfelt apology for any offence that I may have caused. I am committed to the role I have accepted and am looking forward to building on the fantastic work that has been put in place over the last number of years.”
However, Orkney LibDem MSP Liam McArthur said public health messages could be undermined if Stewart continued to make the journey.
He told The Orcadian: “People in Orkney who are being asked to make daily sacrifices in their own lives expect those in leadership roles to set an example. The risk, otherwise, is that important public health messages are undermined.”
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