Inevitable end to this debacle

THE only real surprise about Shona Robison’s call for senior figures at NHS Tayside to stand down is that it has taken so long to come (see page 6).

The utter shambles of its finances, the failure by chairman Professor John Connell this week to convince the public he could lead the health board out of the mire and the finger-pointing at previous regimes have now reached their inevitable conclusion.

It is hard to see how he and chief executive Lesley McLay can continue in their roles in the face of what is an almost unprecedented intervention by the Scottish Government.

Professor Connell’s claims in the Tele earlier this week that he and his colleagues were dealing with an inherited situation and could not apologise for the past sins of others were not what either patients or SNP ministers wanted to hear.

With the Scottish Government now effectively taking control of NHS Tayside, the task of rebuilding its finances and putting in place the strong governance it needs to remain on an even keel in the long term can truly begin.

Health Minister Ms Robison, who is also a Dundee MSP, has already faced criticism over the perception she did not act quickly enough to tackle the crisis in the local health board.

This is something she may wish to ponder over the next few days and weeks.

But more pressing is the need to restore people’s faith in the way NHS Tayside is run and balance the books.

Recriminations, and possibly even sanctions on those responsible for the current debacle, can come later.

For now, the priority must be getting NHS Tayside on the mend.