NHS Scotland has a new chief executive and a new Chief Nursing Officer has been appointed, while the nation’s interim Chief Medical Officer finds himself appointed to the job on a permanent basis.

The former Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, Caroline Lamb, has been appointed to the top job in health and social care as Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General of Health and Social Care – the Scottish government’s top civil servant for health.

After Malcolm Wright’s resignation from the role in May of this year on health grounds, the job was being done by two people on an interim basis: Professor John Connaghan, who stepped up from being NHS Scotland’s chief officer to be interim Chief Executive; and Elinor Mitchell, who has been interim Director General having been Director Of Community Health and Social Care.

Malcolm Wright was made permanent head of NHS Scotland and director general in June 2019 after acting as interim lead following Paul Gray’s departure in February last year.

Since March Ms Lamb, a former finance director who led NHS National Education for Scotland, has been overseeing Test and Protect and the covid vaccination programme. She is expected to take up her new post in January 2021.

Following the resignation of Dr Catherine Calderwood in April after she faced severe criticism for breaking lockdown restrictions, Dr Gregor Smith had been filling in as the nation’s Chief Medical Officer.

The former GP and Lanarkshire Primary Care Medical Director will now continue in his role but on a permanent basis with immediate effect.  

Professor Amanda Croft is to become Scotland’s next Chief Nursing Officer in February, following in the footsteps of Professor Fiona McQueen who retires in March.

Professor Croft is a former Chief Executive of NHS Grampian and has worked for over 30 years across acute and primary health care services.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has offered her congratulations to the individuals taking on “crucial roles”:

“All three bring a wealth of experience and I know they will work collaboratively with health and social care staff across the country as we continue to respond to the covid pandemic, remobilise NHS Scotland and ensure people access the right care, in the right place,” she said.

“I also want to extend my personal thanks to Elinor Mitchell and John Connaghan for the leadership they have provided in an interim capacity over the last eight months.

“That thanks is extended to Professor Fiona McQueen for everything she has done throughout her career, including the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and for ensuring NHS Scotland has been able to respond to the covid pandemic.

“The contribution of all three has been invaluable and I wish them well for the future.”

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