NHS Tayside seeking new finance director

CASH-STRAPPED NHS Tayside is on the hunt for a new finance director more than 18 months after the last permanent post holder retired under a cloud of controversy.

Lindsay Bedford retired in March last year after the health board was accused of “cooking the books” by using loans from NHS National Services Scotland to make its own accounts look better.

Although it began before Mr Bedford took up the role, he retired once the revelations came to light.

The health board was also embroiled in a scandal over using money donated to a charity fund to pay for IT equipment.

Although the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator said the health board had not broken the rules, the row eventually cost the then chief executive Lesley McLay and chairman Professor John Connell their jobs.

Following Mr Bedford’s retirement, Alan Gray from NHS Grampian was drafted in to serve as director of finance on a temporary basis. The post has been filled on an acting basis by Stuart Lyall since Mr Gray returned to Grampian.

The post offers a salary between £89,440-£121,318 per annum. The job description states the new finance director will have a “key strategic role in ensuring NHS Tayside makes effective use of its financial resources”.

It adds the successful candidate should support the chief executive and NHS Tayside in the effective financial stewardship of the £889.5 million budget. Closing date is November 15.

Dave Sharp leads the Safe campaign.