Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
NHS Tayside chief planning to retire
Conservative MSP Alexander Burnett said he and fellow Tories had written to health secretary Shona Robison asking for “clarity of governance” following the appointment of Malcolm Wright.
Mr Wright, who was made Tayside chief executive in April, said yesterday he would step down at the end of the year.
He will also be leaving his role as chief executive of NHS Grampian, the role he held alongside his post in Tayside. He has also led a regional health delivery programme since 2017.
Mr Burnett said: “My colleagues and I are still waiting for a response from Shona Robison to our letter last week calling for clarity of governance given the three roles that Mr Wright holds. This news (that he is retiring) only serves to muddy the waters further.”
The Scottish Government did not respond to a Tele query asking if Ms Robison would reply.
A spokeswoman said: “The recruitment and appointment of a new chief executive is a matter for the NHS Grampian board. In the meantime, an interim chief executive is already i n place.” However, Ms Robison said that Mr Wright had been an “excellent servant”.
She added: “His i nterim post at Tayside has not played a part in his decision to retire from Grampian.”
NHS Tayside has said it will not be commenting further at this time.
In a statement, Mr Wright said: “I have been clear since I took up post here in Tayside that I felt it was an honour to be asked to lead this organisation.”
He added that while he knew Tayside faced a “number of challenges,” staff were “totally committed” to the service.
“I have made a commitment to NHS Tayside and the people of Tayside that I am up for this challenge,” he added.
“I’m really looking forward to working hard over the coming months and leading the development of a plan which will deliver the transformation needed for health and social care.”
Mr Wright and chairman John Brown were appointed following the departure of the previous chairman and the removal of the former chief executive over a financial mismanagement scandal. Ourvoice
A GROUP of MSPs has called for clarity on how NHS boards are run after Tayside’s health boss announced he would retire from the role less than a year after he was appointed.
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