Ministers praised over removal of mental health chief

MINISTERS were commended yesterday for stepping in to help remove the president of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland after an inquiry found she had bullied staff.

MSPs on Holyrood's public audit committee welcomed the action following their inquiry into the departure of Eileen Davie from her taxpayer-funded post.

She had continued to draw her 159,000 salary despite having five rulings against her and without being available for work for about a year, the committee was told.

A disciplinary hearing initially ruled that she should be retrained, but ministers eventually decided to remove her from the post.

Committee convener Hugh Henry called the payments a "scandal" when the details of the case emerged in February. He said yesterday: "The committee was rather surprised that the disciplinary committee did not recommend the removal of the former president from office, given the seriousness of its findings against her.

"We recognised that this placed ministers in a difficult position and commend their decision to put their duty of care to tribunal staff first and take action which resulted in the departure of the former president."

Ms Davie was appointed president of the tribunal in February 2005. She left in October 2008 but had effectively been unavailable for work since November 2007.

Auditors said she was paid between 146,000 and 153,000 during her 11-month absence.

During her employment, accounts showed a provision was made of 297,000 for future pension costs.

MSPs were told in February that five findings were made relating to intimidation, bullying and harassment but the disciplinary panel said the president should remain in office.