Health Secretary Alex Neil has said he and the first minister were only told about the resignation of NHS Grampian’s chairman the day it was announced.
He revealed that he and Alex Salmond were informed Aberdeenshire Liberal Democrat councillor Bill Howatson would be standing down at the end of the year on October 14.
Mr Neil disclosed the information in an answer to a parliamentary question asked by Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald.
The north-east politician asked when government representatives first discussed the possible resignation of Mr Howatson and who was involved in the talks.
Mr Neil wrote: “I was notified of the resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian when he received his resignation letter by e-mail on October 14.
“The first minister was made aware shortly after.”
The crisis at the top of NHS Grampian has been exacerbated by the recent announcement that chief executive Richard Carey is taking early retirement and the retirement last month of medical director Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen after 26 years with the board.
The health board has failed to meet key waiting time targets as it struggles to recruit consultants and other specialist staff.
Mr Salmond, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, has appealed for everyone to rally behind new chief executive Malcolm Wright despite concerns that he will not live and work in the area.
Meanwhile, Mr Neil will today announce that the NHS as a whole must continue to “relentlessly pursue its drive to be the safest in the world”.
He will be speaking at a conference involving clinicians and managers from across all sections of the NHS to discuss how to go on improving patient safety.
Mr Neil is expected to say: “The care provided in Scotland’s NHS is now safer than ever before.
“Hospital acquired infections like C-Diff and MRSA have been dramatically reduced.
“Our NHS is a vast, complex organisation, caring for millions of people every year.
“Getting it right every single time, and providing the safest, highest quality care possible, is our goal and we must go on working ceaselessly to deliver it on behalf of the people of Scotland.”