NHS Scotland chief Derek Feeley departs for US job

The chief executive of NHS Scotland has resigned to take up a job in the US.

Health Secretary Alex Neil visited Yorkhill Hospital over the weekend to meet children receiving treatment . Picture: Julie Bull

• NHS Scotland chief executive Derek Feeley to leave post for role in US

• Health Secretary Alex Neil pays tribute to departing Mr Feely

• Mr Feeley was brought before MSPs to explain waiting list manipulation at NHS Lothian

Derek Feeley, who is also director general for health and social care in the Scottish Government, will join the Massachusetts-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as its executive vice-president.

Mr Feeley has worked in government service for over 30 years, taking on his current role in 2010. He will leave his post in August.

He said: “I would like to thank my colleagues in government and in the health service for all of their help and support over the years. It is a great honour to be offered this opportunity with IHI as they work to make health and care better across the world.”

Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “I would like to pay tribute to Derek for driving forward improvements in the NHS through his visible leadership, foresight and dedication.

“He has made a major contribution to health and healthcare in Scotland and I have no doubt he will bring the same drive to his new role.”

Mr Feeley recently appeared before MSPs at Holyrood to answer questions on manipulation of waiting lists within the health service.

The waiting lists problem surfaced in 2011 at NHS Lothian which was found to have manipulated waiting time codes and was subsequently investigated by Audit Scotland.