Scotland’s chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood has resigned.
Images emerged in the Scottish Sun on Sunday of Dr Calderwood 44 miles from her home in Edinburgh with other family members at their second home in Earlsferry, Fife, appearing to be flouting her own guidance amid the Coronavirus lockdown.
The images sparked an outcry by some politicians, members of the public and the media, with many calling on her to resign.
On Sunday evening, Dr Calderwood said she was “deeply sorry” and resigned “with a heavy heart”. In a statement, she said she was resigning because “the justifiable focus on my behaviour risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic.”
She added;
“Having worked so hard on the government’s response, that is the last thing I want.
“The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice. It is with a heavy heart that I resign as Chief Medical Officer.
“I will work with my team over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accepted her resignation and said “While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. She leaves office with my thanks and admiration.”
Photo Credit: Scottish Government via Flickr under licence (CC BY-NC 2.0)
