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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Former health chiefs lied to MSPs | Former health chiefs lied to MSPs |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two former bosses of the Western Isles NHS board lied to the Scottish Parliament's audit committee, according to evidence uncovered by BBC Scotland. | Two former bosses of the Western Isles NHS board lied to the Scottish Parliament's audit committee, according to evidence uncovered by BBC Scotland. |
| Former chief executive Dick Manson and chairman David Currie told MSPs they had not seen a report into failings in financial reporting at the board. | Former chief executive Dick Manson and chairman David Currie told MSPs they had not seen a report into failings in financial reporting at the board. |
| However, both men attended a private meeting of the board called to discuss that specific report. | However, both men attended a private meeting of the board called to discuss that specific report. |
| Mr Manson and Mr Currie denied they deliberately lied to the committee. | Mr Manson and Mr Currie denied they deliberately lied to the committee. |
| Mr Currie said he was appalled the BBC could suggest that he had. | |
| It is for the audit committee of the Scottish Parliament to decide what further action it wants to take Nicola SturgeonHealth Secretary | It is for the audit committee of the Scottish Parliament to decide what further action it wants to take Nicola SturgeonHealth Secretary |
| In a statement, the former chairman said: "I categorically refute allegations made on BBC Radio Scotland and the BBC website that I deliberately lied to the Scottish Parliament audit committee regarding a report on serious financial failings of the board. | In a statement, the former chairman said: "I categorically refute allegations made on BBC Radio Scotland and the BBC website that I deliberately lied to the Scottish Parliament audit committee regarding a report on serious financial failings of the board. |
| "It has been confirmed by several of my former colleagues that there may have been a failure to recollect that particular report." | "It has been confirmed by several of my former colleagues that there may have been a failure to recollect that particular report." |
| Mr Manson said: "I did not lie to the committee. I told the committee I couldn't recall this report and responded to further questions still saying I couldn't really recall it." | |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the matter was "deeply concerning". | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme the matter was "deeply concerning". |
| She said: "It is for the audit committee of the Scottish Parliament to decide what further action it wants to take." | She said: "It is for the audit committee of the Scottish Parliament to decide what further action it wants to take." |
| The audit committee has been probing serious overspends by the organisation. Evidence to the committee is not given under oath. | The audit committee has been probing serious overspends by the organisation. Evidence to the committee is not given under oath. |
| Mr Manson and Mr Currie were called to give evidence at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday. | Mr Manson and Mr Currie were called to give evidence at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday. |
| Private meeting | Private meeting |
| The former chief executive was asked repeatedly by MSPs if he had seen the report into serious failings into financial reporting. | The former chief executive was asked repeatedly by MSPs if he had seen the report into serious failings into financial reporting. |
| Four times Mr Manson replied he had not. Mr Currie also denied seeing the report. | Four times Mr Manson replied he had not. Mr Currie also denied seeing the report. |
| But other board members have confirmed that both men attended a private meeting called to discuss that very report. | But other board members have confirmed that both men attended a private meeting called to discuss that very report. |
| Meanwhile, a confidential account of the meeting written by the chairman confirms that Mr Manson distributed copies of the report and answered questions regarding its contents. | Meanwhile, a confidential account of the meeting written by the chairman confirms that Mr Manson distributed copies of the report and answered questions regarding its contents. |
| Earlier this month, the health board's problems controlling its finances were further highlighted after it emerged projected savings were counted twice. | Earlier this month, the health board's problems controlling its finances were further highlighted after it emerged projected savings were counted twice. |
| No confidence | No confidence |
| The error was made prior to a Scottish Executive-appointed managerial support team being installed at NHS Western Isles in 2006. | The error was made prior to a Scottish Executive-appointed managerial support team being installed at NHS Western Isles in 2006. |
| A letter by Dr Kevin Woods, the chief executive of the NHS in Scotland, said the board's budget projections for 2005 to 2006 were completely wrong. | A letter by Dr Kevin Woods, the chief executive of the NHS in Scotland, said the board's budget projections for 2005 to 2006 were completely wrong. |
| This was partly because planned savings were miscalculated. | This was partly because planned savings were miscalculated. |
| Dr Woods said the board also failed to create a finance committee that it had promised to put in place in an effort to control the situation. | Dr Woods said the board also failed to create a finance committee that it had promised to put in place in an effort to control the situation. |
| In 2006, the then Health Minister Andy Kerr appointed a new interim chairman to the board and sent in a managerial support team. | In 2006, the then Health Minister Andy Kerr appointed a new interim chairman to the board and sent in a managerial support team. |
| This was amid accusations of mismanagement and following a vote of no confidence in the board's chief executive, chairman and medical director by staff. | This was amid accusations of mismanagement and following a vote of no confidence in the board's chief executive, chairman and medical director by staff. |