Fears over too much work for new chief

The new chief executive of Tayside’s beleaguered health board has moved to allay fears he is juggling too many senior roles.

Malcolm Wright was parachuted in this month to help shore up its finances in the wake of dodgy accounting revelations.

He is already the chief executive at Grampian and heads up the NHS for the north of Scotland, prompting concern from the country’s public spending watchdog and a former health secretary that he does not have the time to turn Tayside around.

Questions were also asked in the public audit committee about his predecessor Lesley McLay, who has been replaced but is still understood to be drawing a salary as an employee on sick leave.

Former health secretary Alex Neil said of Mr Wright: “How on earth is he going to have any time to deal with the problems at Tayside when he is holding down three very important jobs simultaneously?”

Auditor General Caroline Gardner replied: “I share your regard for Malcolm Wright and I share your concerns about the stretch this is placing on any individual, however competent and experienced.”

Speaking aferwards, Mr Wright said his deputy had already assumed responsibility for the day-to-day running of Grampian, adding: “I am fully dedicated to the work which requires to be done here in NHS Tayside.”