The chair of the troubled Western Isles health board has resigned and a trouble-shooting team sent in 'to assist' managers and clinicians, it was announced on Tuesday.

The chair of the troubled Western Isles health board has resigned and a trouble-shooting team sent in 'to assist' managers and clinicians, it was announced on Tuesday.

Health minister Andy Kerr said the move was an opportunity for a 'fresh start'.

Last week HSJreported that the health board's local MSP Alasdair Morrison called for senior management to be sacked. The Labour politician described some of the board's actions as 'disgraceful'. He took particular issue with the appointment of communications chief John Macleod, a Scottish Daily Mailcolumnist whose strategy document describing GPs as having big egos and women expecting pain-free labour was leaked.

Chair David Currie said he was resigning because of difficulty balancing his NHS, personal and business interests. 'It is in the interests of the people of the Western Isles and this NHS board for someone else to pick up the challenge.'

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