Fresh Leadership at NHS Grampian is a Welcome Step for Patients Says Stevenson

Stewart Stevenson, SNP MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, has welcomed the change in leadership at NHS Grampian as a way to ensure that the primary focus on patient care is maintained.

Current NHS Education for Scotland Chief Executive Malcolm Wright will take up the post of interim Chief Executive of NHS Grampian following the resignation of outgoing Chief Executive Richard Carey.

Mr Stevenson said:

“Richard Carey has served the NHS for many years and I wish him well with his early retirement.

“The announcement of a change in leadership at NHS Grampian is a welcome step towards resolving some of the tensions that have been allowed to develop within the health board.

“The priority of the NHS must always be the care of patients and I hope that this change in leadership will help to ensure that nothing interferes with that focus."

The NHS Grampian resource budget has increased by over £229 million since the SNP took office, with NHS Grampian’s share of the total territorial health board resource budget rising from 9.1 per cent in 2006/07 to 9.6 per cent in 2015/16.

He added:

“NHS Grampian’s budget has been protected and increased since the SNP took office, with the budget rising by over £229 million in that time - despite a 6.7 per cent real terms cut to Scotland’s resource budget since 2010/11.

“Those resources have helped to deliver progress, but fresh leadership at the health board will help NHS Grampian meet the challenges it faces in the years ahead.

“People in the North East have a right to expect that they are getting the best possible service from NHS Grampian and I am confident that this change in leadership will help to ensure that they get it.”

In 2015/16 NHS Grampian’s resource budget is set to rise by 4.4 per cent to £812.6 million – the largest increase of any health board.