An Aberdeen care body has been left without senior staff.
Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (ACHSCP) head of joint operations Tom Cowan announced yesterday he would follow former chief officer Judith Proctor out the exit door.
Ms Proctor left her position at the end of February to take on the chief officer role at the Edinburgh version of the partnership, where Mr Cowan will now join her.
Though the pair have been thanked for their hard work over many years, city councillors fear there are tough times ahead following with the loss of their leadership.
The ACHSCP is a collaboration between the council, NHS and third sector bodies and oversees aspects of health and social care in the city.
Mr Cowan has been head of operations with the Aberdeen body since 2015, having previously served as head of adult services with the city council.
Last night he said: “I have been extremely proud to serve the people of Aberdeen for more than eight years, in both my current and my previous role.
“The colleagues I have worked with over this period have been among the most professional and the most dedicated I have ever worked alongside.
“It was a very tough decision for me to decide to move on to this new challenge but I am excited to be taking up this vital role in the capital city.
“I will miss my colleagues in Aberdeen in all our various services – but I’m certain that I will be leaving the city in capable hands and that the huge task of transforming and modernising our health and social care services will continue to be sustained.”
Ahead of council budget negotiations in February, the SNP opposition group said the ruling administration had cut the budget of the partnership by £800,000.
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said: “Firstly, I wish to thank Tom for his considerable efforts – he has been a tirelessly positive force for our city.
“However, it cannot go unnoticed that in the space of just few weeks the senior leadership team of the IJB has been decimated.
“The loss of Tom and Judith, on the back of a huge budget cut from the administration to social care funding, makes this an incredibly concerning time.”
