Pressure mounts on Health Sec
Robison on brink of losing prestige post
SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary is facing a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.
Shona Robison’s position was looking increasingly shaky last night after Willie Rennie joined calls for her to quit following the NHS Tayside financial scandal.
The Scottish Lib Dem leader is planning to open discussions with other opposition parties about a possible vote of no confidence.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has already called on Robison to go and because the SNP no longer have a majority in the Scottish Parliament, they rely on the support of other parties. The numbers mean Robison would need support from the Tories or the Greens to survive any motion of no confidence.
She has been under pressure since the financial crisis at NHS Tayside led to the replacement of their chairman and chief executive.
Rennie said the SNP minister should take responsibility and stand down. He blamed Robison for a raft of other problems in the health service – including GP shortages, missed A&E targets and waiting times for mental health treatment.
He told delegates at his party’s conference in Aviemore: “Shona Robison must accept that she is responsible. Change will only come when there is change at the top. She must resign – and she must resign now.”
Robison intervened in the running of NHS Tayside earlier this month.
Their chairman, Professor John Connell, was replaced following revelations they had used cash from public donations to fund new technology. Chief executive Lesley McLay was also forced out in the wake of scandal.