Chief Executive of NHS Lothian appointed

Calum Campbell had only been in interim charge for a month before his appointment as chief executive was announced on Friday.

NHS Lothian
Published 18th Jul 2020

The interim chief executive of NHS Lothian has been appointed to the role as health boards across Scotland look towards the "new normal'' in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Calum Campbell had only been in interim charge for a month before his appointment as chief executive was announced on Friday.

Having started working in the NHS in 1984, Mr Campbell was previously in charge of NHS Borders for five years before taking on the same role at NHS Lanarkshire in 2015.

Mr Campbell said: "I am really delighted to be joining NHS Lothian at such an important time.

"I have been working in the interim post since June, which has allowed me to meet the teams and get to grips with the challenges and opportunities ahead.

"The remobilisation of health services as a result of Covid-19 will be one of the toughest challenges facing health boards across Scotland, but I am confident we can continue to push boundaries and think differently to ensure our services can adapt and evolve to continue to provide the highest quality patient care.''

Esther Roberton, NHS Lothian interim chairwoman of the health board, said: I am delighted to announce that following a competitive recruitment process, Calum Campbell has been appointed chief executive and accountable officer of NHS Lothian.

"We are welcoming Calum to NHS Lothian at a time when we are refreshing our strategic vision to implement the learning and innovation that has been the hallmark of our Covid-19 response.

"Calum is committed to working with the Board to ensure we move forward as one, in collaboration with our four Health and Social Care Partnerships to advance integration and continue to improve services for the people of Lothian.''

Ms Roberton was appointed to the board after the resignation of Brian Houston, who quit earlier this year citing "irreconcilable differences'' with Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

Last August the previous NHS Lothian chief executive Tim Davison announced he would leave the "often unforgiving role'' after eight years.

He said: "It has been a huge privilege to have played my part in the leadership of one of Scotland's best-loved public services and to complete my career with eight years at the helm of the NHS board serving Scotland's capital city and the surrounding Lothians.

"I am looking forward now to having time to pursue my many outside interests and to handing the baton of responsibility over to my successor to take NHS Lothian forward into the new decade.

"I would like to thank my board, my leadership team and the wider staff body in NHS Lothian for their unfailing support in what many recognise is a pretty demanding and often unforgiving role.''