Professor John Connaghan CBE, Chair of NHS Lothian, has been appointed to serve as Interim Chair of NHS Grampian for a period of around six months.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care made the appointment last week as the current Chair of NHS Grampian’s term of office comes to an end next month (October).
Professor Connaghan will take up post on October 10.
During this time, Andrew Fleming, currently Vice Chair, will be appointed to undertake the full responsibilities of Interim Chair of NHS Lothian.
Professor Connaghan, who has served as Chair of NHS Lothian since August 2021, is expected to return to his substantive NHS Lothian role at the end of the interim period.
The interim arrangements reflect Professor Connaghan’s current subnational role in leading the East Region Strategic Planning and Delivery Committee and the experience and continuity he can bring to NHS Grampian.
As Interim Chair of NHS Grampian, he will seek to build on the important recovery and improvement work initiated under the outgoing Chair, Mrs Alison Evison.
He said: “I look forward to working with colleagues in NHS Grampian and building on the work already underway to improve performance and recovery.
“In the meantime, Andrew will assume leadership of the NHS Lothian Board as it continues to help steer strategic progress and improve services for our local communities.”
Mr Fleming, who will also take up his new post on October 10, is a former senior civil servant and has been a Non-Executive Member of the NHS Lothian Board since 2022, serving as Vice Chair since February 2024.
Mr Fleming’s existing Board and Committee commitments will be reviewed to ensure that he has the necessary time and capacity to fulfil the Interim NHS Lothian Board Chair responsibilities.
He said: “I am pleased to take up the role of Interim Chair of the NHS Lothian Board, and I welcome the opportunity to work more closely with our teams, local communities and partner organisations in scrutinising the delivery and improvement of our services.”
