Health chief announces retirement as NHS Borders prepares to unveil £28m worth of savings
Last updated 27th Feb 2024
NHS Borders is looking for a new chief executive.
Ralph Roberts (pictured) has announced he's retiring this summer - after dedicating more than 35 years to the health service.
His decision comes just weeks after it was revealed the local health board needs to find £28 million pounds worth of savings over the coming year to balance the books.
Details of what services may be affected are expected to be revealed at April's meeting of NHS Borders.
In a statement released today (Tuesday), Mr Roberts, who guided the health board through the Covid pandemic, said: “Having reached this stage in my life, I have decided that this is the right time for me to explore new opportunities.
"It also provides the opportunity for NHS Borders to identify a new Chief Executive who can commit themselves to leading the organisation for an extended period as we implement the changes that are required to address the challenges that we face."
But he added: "I am fully committed to doing everything I can to take NHS Borders forward over the next six months; to protect our services and staff and to support a smooth transition to whoever takes on the role next.”
Closures, a recruitment freeze and reductions in service are all being considered as part of NHS Borders spending plans, which are due to be submitted to the Scottish government before the end of March.
Voicing his frustrations earlier this month, Mr Roberts told us: "As a society, we need to recognise that the health service cannot go on doing more and more and more, if we're not willing as a society to invest in the health service.
"So we are going to have to look at the amount of treatments that we provide, the criteria we put around the services that we offer, and what limits we put on that."
And he added: "There is a risk this will impact on the speed at which we can address the backlog (of operations) that we know we've had post the pandemic."
WATCH: Click on the link below to view more of that full interview...
It has been a challenging few years for the health service, with the army called in to support staff during the peak of the pandemic.
Attendees at the board’s annual review meeting in September heard that the Borders General Hospital has been operating at full capacity throughout the year.
And a review of community hospitals is also underway.
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Mr Roberts said: “By September 2024 I will have worked in the NHS for over 35 years, and as a Chief Executive for 13 years; firstly in NHS Shetland and then for the last five and a half years in NHS Borders.
“It has been a privilege to lead the organisation through the Covid Pandemic and subsequent challenges associated with recovery and remobilisation of services.
"One of the real pleasures of my role is seeing the difference our staff make to patients, carers and the wider community every day, and I am very grateful for their continued dedication and professionalism, despite the relentless pressure that they are under."
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