Glandular fever sees council chief executive Sue Bruce signed off work for month

Edinburgh City Council’s chief executive has been absent with glandular fever for several weeks and is not expected to return until some time in November at the earliest.

The 56-year-old spent a day or two in hospital due to suffering further respiratory issues as a result of the illness.

Ms Bruce was originally off for ten days around two months ago but was keen to get back to work and returned too early, insiders suggested.

The £158,000 a year chief exec is known to have phoned her office every day and insisted on keeping up to speed with her duties.

Glandular fever is known as the “kissing disease” because of the way it spreads, and is not uncommon among students. However, there are a range of causes and there is no suggestion that married Ms Bruce caught the illness in such a manner.

A spokesman for the council said: “Sue has been suffering over the last few weeks from a virus.

“While she was going to take a well-deserved two weeks’ annual leave she has been advised to take a bit longer to recover fully so that she can resume her schedule fighting fit.

“In the meantime, the senior management team will pick up her workload.”

Following her prolonged absence, calls have been made to introduce a permanent deputy chief to stand in for Ms Bruce during periods of sickness and holidays.

As head of the fire and police boards her role includes attending a range of events, which recently included speaking alongside Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a major jobs conference in  Edinburgh.

The new deputy role should be handed to a director already employed by the council and should carry no additional pay, Edinburgh Conservatives said.

The Evening News understands so many senior officials had offered to stand in for her so far that they were forced to come up with a rota system.

One senior figure said: “As we understand it, when they asked who wanted to take her place most of the directors were interested and they couldn’t decide among themselves.

“They came up with this rota system, but it means someone new is going the job every other week and it’s hard  for them to follow what’s  happening.

“It’s a big job and it’s far from an ideal situation.”

Cameron Rose, the city’s Conservative leader, who has proposed the new post, said: “I’m certainly of the view that for the sake of clear accountability there should be a deputy.”

Infection spreads through saliva

Glandular fever is a viral infection associated with a high fever.

It is known as the kissing disease as the infection is passed on through saliva.

Infection begins in the salivary glands, which release large amounts of the virus into the saliva. The infection spreads to the B lymphocytes, causing them to multiply, and causing the lymph glands to swell and become painful. Once infected, the virus remains dormant in the body’s cells for the rest of a person’s life.

The incubation period is lengthy, between 33 and 49 days. Symptoms include a high fever – above 39C – a sore throat and and lack of energy. It can be aggravated by exertion or stress.

It also causes loss of appetite, weight loss, swollen tender glands in the neck and around the body, headache and muscle pains.

As it is a viral infection, there is no specific treatment and fluids and rest are crucial to overcome the infection. Antibiotics are not needed.

Members back change in law for school

PLANS to call for a change in the law to allow a long-awaited new high school to be built on Portobello Park have received overwhelming support from the city council, despite protesters vowing to fight the move.

The vast majority of councillors at yesterday’s full council meeting voted in favour of the council pursuing a Private Act of Parliament to seek permission for the school to be built on the green space.

However, Edinburgh Greens – who put forward an amendment calling for a full appraisal of all options – warned that the council runs the risk of “raising and dashing expectations” by committing to a “preferred way forward to build on Portobello Park before it knows if that can legally be delivered”. Only five councillors – all Greens – supported the amendment.

Portobello High School Parent Council member Emma Wood also underlined the poor state of the current school building at the meeting. She said: “The music teacher told me all our fundraising events have to be cancelled this term because the hall lights have been condemned and the electrics have been damaged. This is just one of many examples I could give about how opportunity and spirit are being thwarted.”

City education leader Paul Godzik said: “A further report will come before council in November where we will further outline our approach.”