Bullying campaigners have welcomed the resignation of NHS Highland chairman David Alston amid speculation that he has come under pressure to leave following a QC-led probe into an alleged “culture of fear and intimidation” at the board. 

Mr Alston’s sudden departure is seen as a signal that the findings of John Sturrock QC’s investigation will be embarrassing for the NHS Highland leadership team. 

Medical director, Dr Rod Harvey – who denied that there was any systemic problem with bullying – is also set to step down from his position as medical director. It was confirmed yesterday that Mr Harvey will retire on August 31.

Mr Harvey, who has been working in the NHS for 37 years, said he would return to frontline clinical care as a consultant physician before stopping work altogether. 

He said: “This move will allow me to once again do what I have always at heart enjoyed most in medicine, which is trying to deliver individual patient care to a high standard and the best of my abilities.” 

Former chief executive, Elaine Mead, left in December and a number of other high-profile staff, including former communications director Maimie Thomson, have also departed in recent weeks. 

The health board is also wrestling with a predicted £18 million overspend for 2018/19. 

Mr Alston said he believed a new chairperson would “provide a fresh approach and enable the service to look forward with confidence”, adding that it had been a “privilege” to serve as chairman since April 2016.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has appointed Professor Boyd Robertson, the retired principal of Sabhal Mòr, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, to act as interim chairman alongside NHS Highland’s new chief executive, Iain Stewart. 

She said: “It is vital that NHS Highland, under the direction of Professor Robertson and Iain Stewart, moves forward at pace addressing the known priority areas of improvement required, including finance and service delivery and embracing fully the work needed from John Sturrock QC’s review when finalised.”

The QC was commissioned by the Scottish Government to carry out a review after senior clinicians wrote to The Herald in September claiming NHS Highland was riddled by a “culture of fear and intimidation” emanating “from the very top”, and that this had led to concerns over patient safety being silenced. 
Hundreds of staff members have since given evidence in private to Mr 
Sturrock. His report is expected to be made public in March. 

A spokeswoman for the whistleblowing doctors and trade union GMB said:A spokesperson for the whistleblowing doctors and the GMB union said: “With the departure of the former Chief Executive, the Chairman, and now the Medical Director we feel that this is a real opportunity for culture change in NHS Highland.

"We hope that once John Sturrock QC’s report has been published that we can all work in a culture of openness, honesty and accountability that has been lacking for a decade."

A Scottish Government spokesman said he could not comment on the reasons for Mr Alston’s departure, but said the Health Secretary expected to update MSPs on Mr Sturrock’s report at the end of March. 

He said: “In line with his previous commitment John Sturrock QC recently met with the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the interim findings of his review.

“A full report will be presented to the Cabinet Secretary in the spring at which point the next steps will be decided upon.”