Health Secretary Shona Robison has rejected a call for a judge-led inquiry into the treatment of staff at NHS Grampian.
She has told campaigners calling for the immediate reinstatement of two surgeons suspended from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary last month that she is satisfied with NHS Grampian’s handling of the situation.
A group of distinguished medical professionals and patients wrote to the minister yesterday to urge her to order the immediate reinstatement of Queen’s Surgeon in Scotland, Professor Zygmunt Krukowski, and his general surgery colleague Wendy Craig.
NHS Grampian bosses are facing allegations they had taken “revenge” on the pair for raising serious concerns about the running of the hospital.
But Ms Robison said she would not get involved.
In a letter to lead campaigner Dr Donnie Ross, she said: “The process in this case is underway and needs to be allowed to conclude without interference.
“It would be completely inappropriate for myself or any politician to become involved.”
Ms Robison said staff should have the confidence to speak up without fear and legislation was in place to protect whistleblowers.
Referring to three separate inquiries into the health board, she wrote: “NHS Grampian accepted all of the recommendations arising from these reports and good progress has been made.
“I would not therefore support your call for a further review into these matters.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian refused to comment on the employment status of the two surgeons but reassured anxious patients that the standard of care at ARI was high.