Another key resignation at troubled NHS Tayside

A health boss appointed to champion the cause of whistleblowers at troubled Tayside NHS has quit after just five months.

Munwar Hussain claims serious issues were being ignored and he has written to the First Minister and Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to raise his concerns. He said “important matters” were not being addressed.

Since April the board’s chairman, chief executive, vice-chairman and the chair of the finance and resources committee have all left.

The board was rocked by revelations that £2.7 million of charity donations had been diverted to shore up its ailing finances.

Mr Hussain was appointed the board’s whistleblowing champion – a role meant to ensure staff ’s concerns were treated seriously – in April and was also chair of the board’s staff governance committee and a member of the audit and remuneration committees.

Yesterday he said: “I feel that I have not been given the appropriate assurances that these important matters are being dealt with. I have put the range of my concerns in writing to the cabinet secretary and the First Minister. I am still waiting on a reply.”

He refused to detail the issues he raised, but said: “I feel it’s serious but they are not taking it seriously.”