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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Severe criticism of health board | Severe criticism of health board |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| The running of NHS Western Isles has been severely criticised by the Scottish Parliament's audit committee. | The running of NHS Western Isles has been severely criticised by the Scottish Parliament's audit committee. |
| MSPs said there had been failures year after year to put in adequate financial controls and rein in debts of £3.36m. | MSPs said there had been failures year after year to put in adequate financial controls and rein in debts of £3.36m. |
| The committee also said the board having three chief executives - one suspended, one on secondment and one acting - was unacceptable. | The committee also said the board having three chief executives - one suspended, one on secondment and one acting - was unacceptable. |
| It has called on the Scottish Government to work with the board to resolve the situation urgently. | It has called on the Scottish Government to work with the board to resolve the situation urgently. |
| Committee convener Hugh Henry said there was "considerable anger and dismay" on the islands at failures in systems and management. | Committee convener Hugh Henry said there was "considerable anger and dismay" on the islands at failures in systems and management. |
| He said: "It is not acceptable for the same failures to keep occurring year after year, as happened within NHS Western Isles. | He said: "It is not acceptable for the same failures to keep occurring year after year, as happened within NHS Western Isles. |
| "This committee is deeply concerned by the fact that the board has three chief executives. | "This committee is deeply concerned by the fact that the board has three chief executives. |
| "This must be resolved urgently." | "This must be resolved urgently." |
| Mr Henry added: "We also believe that the government must review its arrangements for appointing staff to temporary posts and secondments to ensure proper transparency." | Mr Henry added: "We also believe that the government must review its arrangements for appointing staff to temporary posts and secondments to ensure proper transparency." |
| Evidence uncovered | Evidence uncovered |
| In 2006, the then health minister, Andy Kerr, intervened in the row over the running of the islands' health authority. | In 2006, the then health minister, Andy Kerr, intervened in the row over the running of the islands' health authority. |
| He installed a new interim chairman and sent a support team to the isles. | He installed a new interim chairman and sent a support team to the isles. |
| MSPs said the current management team had made achievements. | |
| Earlier this year, a former chief executive apologised to the audit committee for not being able to remember seeing a controversial report. | Earlier this year, a former chief executive apologised to the audit committee for not being able to remember seeing a controversial report. |
| Dick Manson had told MSPs he had not seen the document into failings in financial reporting at the board. | Dick Manson had told MSPs he had not seen the document into failings in financial reporting at the board. |
| But BBC Scotland uncovered evidence that he had. | But BBC Scotland uncovered evidence that he had. |
| Mr Manson wrote to the committee saying he had since been able to recall the report. | Mr Manson wrote to the committee saying he had since been able to recall the report. |
| Nationalist MSPs, Alasdair Allan and Rob Gibson, have welcomed the findings of the report. | Nationalist MSPs, Alasdair Allan and Rob Gibson, have welcomed the findings of the report. |
| Mr Allan said: "The committee has clearly recognised the depth of anger and frustration in the local community about the performance of the health board during the period when it was run by Mr Manson and Mr Currie. | Mr Allan said: "The committee has clearly recognised the depth of anger and frustration in the local community about the performance of the health board during the period when it was run by Mr Manson and Mr Currie. |
| "However, it has not exempted Edinburgh from criticism." | "However, it has not exempted Edinburgh from criticism." |