Robinson’s tenure as NHS chair extended to end of year

GARY Robinson has had his term as NHS Shetland chair extended until the end of the year.

His tenure was due to expire at the end of July but there was not enough time to hold a recruitment exercise prior to the Scottish Parliament elections earlier this year.

The Scottish Government has now confirmed that his chairmanship has been extended to the end of December.

Robinson – who is also a councillor and depute leader of the SIC – added that the delay emanating from the elections has been “compounded” by the imminent retirement of Caroline Lamb as director general and CEO of NHS Scotland.

The director general would usually chair the recruitment panel.

“Underlying everything at the moment is the public sector reform agenda, with more information on that expected in the programme for government which will be announced next month,” Robinson said.

Robinson was appointed as NHS Shetland chair in 2018, and will have served the maximum two years.

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In a statement issued by the Scottish Government, he said he looked forward to “continuing to define the future requirements of NHS Shetland’s estate, including the Gilbert Bain Hospital, working to further reduce waiting times, and seeing through the transition to electric vehicle”.

The government said the extension would provide “continuity of leadership”.