Shake up for health boss Dr Graham will team up with associate
The under- fire medical surpemo of Ayrshire has left her full- on role after five years.
Dr Alison Graham has quit the sole leadership as the £ 170,000 a year Medical Director of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
She is now deferring to the promoted associate Dr Crawford McGuffie who will now attend health board meetings with her.
Graham was savaged in public last year in the row over a misclaiming Ayr dental practice.
She ruled there was to be no criminal investigation over misclaiming public cash at the Quadrant Dental practice.
Graham started her career with the GP father of one of the dentists Donald Morrison.
A tribunal heard Graham’s actions were also reported by NHS Scotland advisor John Cameron to the Director of Counter Fraud Services because he “was concerned that Ms Graham appearing to be favouring Mr Morrison.”
And on her credibility the judge said: “Ms Graham was also guarded in the responses she gave and often would not acknowledge an obvious point until the question had been asked several times.”
Graham joined NHS Ayrshire & Arran as Medical Director in March 2013, following six years as Medical Director of NHS Lanarkshire. She is also the former Medical Director of NHS Highland.
When she came to Ayrshire she claimed was was committed to instilling a patient- centred and high quality approach to all aspects of care, and to delivering a well trained and motivated medical workforce.
In an internal letter Graham has sparked conjecture she will leave the department in six months.
One source said: “It looks as if she is hand- holding Crawford until he is comfortable and we are speculating she is off after that.”
The letter states: “I will be assuming a joint role as Medical Director with Dr Crawford McGuffie, for an initial period of six months.
“Crawford will be assuming the major part of the role allowing me to have a limited area of responsibility in Information Governance, Litigation and Revalidation as the Responsible Officer.
“All Medical Director matters should be directed through the Medical Directors’ office at University Hospital Ayr, where we will both be based. Crawford will be the first point of contact in all matters out with those listed above. We will both attend Board Meetings.
“Crawford is looking forward to taking on this new challenge and I know will provide excellent senior leadership for NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
“I know you will all offer him full support.”