Interim chief executive named for NHS Lothian

THE chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire has been appointed to take temporary charge of NHS Lothian.

Calum Campbell, who moved to Lanarkshire from NHS Borders five years ago, will take over as interim chief executive in Lothian next month.

He will replace Tim Davison, who announced earlier this year he was retiring early after eight years in the job.

NHS Lothian, which is still under special measures following the last-minute halt to the opening of the new Sick Kids hospital last summer, also lost its chairman, Brian Houston, when he resigned in January over “fundamental and irreconcilable” differences with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

He later revealed in the Evening News that Ms Freeman had told him she would fire him if he did not quit.

Esther Roberton, NHS Lothian’s interim chair, welcomed Mr Campbell’s appointment.

She said “NHS Lothian board members and I would like to thank Tim for his talented leadership and outstanding commitment throughout an exceptional 37 year career in the NHS in Scotland. We wish him a very enjoyable retirement.

“Calum Campbell comes to us as a dedicated and already highly experienced chief executive and we look forward to welcoming him to his new role here at NHS Lothian.”

Mr Campbell will join NHS Lothian on June 15 for a handover period before taking up the reins on June 25.

NHS Lothian said Mr Davison had a period of planned leave before he retires in early August.