THE vice-principal of Aberdeen University has been appointed as chairman of a troubled health board.

Professor Stephen Logan will take over the helm of NHS Grampian when he retires from his university position in January.

It comes during a difficult time for the health board. The former chief executive stepped down last month after admitting some senior medical staff had lost confidence in the leadership of the organisation and a damning report by Healthcare Improvement Scotland later raised grave concern about the behaviour of managers and some top doctors.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said Professor Logan, who has previously been a board member of NHS Grampian and was chairman of Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust from 1998 until 2004, was well placed for the role.

She said: "Under this new leadership, the health board is now in a strong position to take forward the recommendations from the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report quickly and effectively.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats both criticised the Scottish Government for "underfunding" the NHS and said it was vital Ministers worked with the health board to turn the problems around.

Richard Baker, for Labour, said: "The key issue is that this new team is finally backed with a fair funding deal from the Scottish Government because if underfunding continues this new leadership team will face just as steep a challenge as their predecessors in improving patient care."