NHS boss promoted lover
Prof suspended as allegations are probed
AN NHS executive has been suspended for allegedly promoting his mistress to a highly paid job.
Professor Scott McLean, chief operations officer in charge of acute services at NHS Fife, is being investigated over claims he recruited Shelley Marshall, 38, while they were having an affair.
The mother of two was a management accountant at the health board before she was appointed as performance management co-ordinator in the acute services division in August 2015.
The promotion is believed to have involved a “substantial” pay rise and is said to have angered colleagues, who felt snubbed.
McLean, 42, an honorary professor at the University of St Andrews’ School of Medicine, was suspended on full pay in November pending the outcome of a probe into alleged misconduct. He remains on “gardening leave”.
The reason for his four-month absence has not been disclosed to members of the NHS Fife board.
McLean and Marshall first struck up a romantic relationship while studying for degrees in business administration. Both were married at the time but McLean is understood to have left his wife last year.
Marshall, whose married surname was Dickson, also split from her husband last summer.
McLean and Marshall didn’t respond to requests for comment.
A spokesman for NHS Fife said details of the investigation are confidential.