The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Medical chief falls on sword
Dr Catherine Calderwood resigns over trips to Fife home
Scotland’s chief medical officer sensationally resigned late last night after being given a police warning for ignoring her own advice.
Dr Catherine Calderwood apologised at yesterday’s government briefing for visiting her second home in Fife both last weekend and this after she admitted going against her own guidance on not leaving her home in Edinburgh without a reasonable excuse.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon conceded the medical expert, who “apologised unreservedly” for her actions, had been wrong to go to her second home in Earlsferry, but initially said she had declined Dr Calderwood’s offer of resignation, adding her expertise had been “invaluable” in the fight to stop the virus’ spread.
Police visited Dr Calderwood’s home yesterday but stopped short of issuing a fine, instead giving her a formal warning.
However, late last night Dr Calderwood caved in to mounting pressure as public anger became clear and she was removed from any public role in the government’s campaign before tendering her resignation.
Earlier, Dr Calderwood said: “What I did was wrong. I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others and I am truly sorry for that.”
Scotland’s chief medical officer stepped down last night after admitting she was wrong to visit her family’s second home in Fife during the coronavirus pandemic, which went against her own advice that all Scots should stay at home
Announcing her resignation last night, Calderwood said: “I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made.
“The First Minister and I have had a further conversation this evening and we have agreed that the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic.
“Having worked so hard on the government’s response, that is the last thing I want.
“The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice. It is with a heavy heart that I resign as chief medical officer.
“I will work with my team over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Dr Calderwood’s advice to me, to the government and to people across Scotland over the past few weeks has been the right advice. People should continue to stay at home to protect the NHS and to save lives.
“It is, however, clear, that the mistake she made - even though she has apologised sincerely and honourably for it - risks distracting from and undermining confidence in the government’s public health message at this crucial time. That is not a risk neither of us is willing to take.
“Catherine has been a transformational CMO, bringing changes to the way medicine is delivered in Scotland and in particular using her experience to bring an overdue focus to women’s health. Also, as I said earlier, her advice to me on coronavirus will be missed - which is why she will work to ensure a smooth transition in the days ahead. While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. She leaves office with my thanks and admiration.”
At a briefing earlier in the day, the first minister said she does not condone anyone breaking the guidance on preventing the spread of the virus.
But, with Dr Catherine Calderwood facing mounting calls to resign during the afternoon, Ms Sturgeon added that it would be “damaging not to have her ongoing advice and expertise” as chief medical officer.
Dr Calderwood told a briefing at the Scottish Government headquarters in Edinburgh yesterday she had also visited the home in Fife last weekend with her husband.
She has apologised after photos of herself and her family near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry were published in The Scottish Sun.
Just days earlier, the 51-year-old tweeted a photo of her family at their main residence in Edinburgh as they clapped for the frontline NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Ms Sturgeon said she had not known about Dr Calderwood’s visits to her second home.
The first minister said: “The chief medical officer made a mistake in travelling away from her home. Whatever her reasons for doing so, it was wrong and she knows that.
“All of us, including me, will make mistakes in these unprecedented times we are living in.
“When we do we must be candid about it and learn from it.”
Ms Sturgeon said Dr Calderwood had offered to do whatever is in the best interest of the country, but crucially added: “In my view, that would not be her resignation.”
Police Scotland chief constable Iain Livingstone confirmed officers visited Dr Calderwood’s home yesterday and issued her with a warning. “Officers spoke to her about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct.