Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Lothian retires today after 40 years’ service to the NHS.
Calum began his career as a nurse and then Health Visitor before going into general management which led to senior leadership roles. He held Director posts in Wales and Scotland before serving as Chief Executive at NHS Borders and NHS Lanarkshire. He joined NHS Lothian in June 2020, still in the early months of the pandemic.
In a message to staff, Calum said;” Times are tough, and I do not underestimate that, but I have been very proud of your professionalism, resilience and pragmatism and your determination to do the best for the people we serve. I mean that. It is very much appreciated. You make great teams, and you do great work. Never forget that.”
Speaking on behalf of the NHS Lothian Board, Chairman John Connaghan “Calum is rightly held in the highest regard by colleagues across the NHS, earning respect and gratitude wherever he has worked. Among his many past achievements was the creation of strategic partnerships with the Universities of Strathclyde, West of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian to create three University Hospitals for Lanarkshire. More recently he has championed system-wide working, ensuring NHS Lothian and its four Health and Social Care Partnerships work collaboratively toward a shared vision, articulated in a jointly owned strategy that will guide NHS Lothian forward for the next 5-10 years. We thank him for his hard work and exceptional commitment and wish him every happiness in the years ahead.”
Jim Crombie, who has been appointed Interim Chief Executive, reflected on Calum’s leadership; “Perhaps because he started out all those years ago as a nurse and then worked as a health visitor Calum has never lost sight of why we are all here – to do the very best for the population we serve. He has retained a laser focus on performance, while never forgetting there are people behind the data. He does not flinch in the eye of a storm and has that great talent of bringing out the best in those he leads. His clarity of purpose, honesty and fairness are just some of the qualities of his leadership that have served NHS Lothian so well in the four years he has been with us.
I’m sure you will join me in thanking Calum for his outstanding service and wishing him a very long and happy retirement.”
Professor Caroline Hiscox, currently Interim Chief Executive at NHS Tayside, takes up the position of Chief Executive of NHS Lothian in August.
