A row has erupted after former Aberdeen Council leader Barney Crockett was nominated to lead troubled NHS Grampian by his colleague who ousted him from the top job at the Town House.
Mr Crockett’s name was put forward to become the new interim chairman at the health board by his successor Jenny Laing.
It comes after a replacement is found for Bill Howatson, who announced his shock resignation earlier this week and will leave his post on December 31.
His departure comes as the board struggles to manage a staffing crisis and unrest amongst senior clinicians.
Aberdeen Council leader Jenny Laing wrote to Health Secretary Alex Neil stating that “political differences” should be set aside to allow the crisis-torn health board succeed under a new chairman and suggested Councillor Crockett, an experienced Labour politician, was the man for the job.
However, the move was criticised by SNP group leader Graham Dickson, who claimed Ms Laing had put herself in a “ridiculous position” by proposing the man she ousted as council leader in May.
He said: “The NHS should not be used as a pawn in councillor Laing’s power games within the council trying to buy off councillor Crockett with a plum job at NHS Grampian.
“What we need is an experienced leader who can work together with the Scottish Government to improve performance, not a Labour place-man seeking to continue his one man vendetta against the SNP.”
Ms Laing said that Councillor Crockett, who already sits on the NHS Grampian board, had “vast experience” given his past as council leader and roles with the Housing Association Ombudsman, Scottish Enterprise and Robert Gordon University, where he was governor.
Ms Laing said: “I am convinced that NHS Grampian requires strong leadership from a person who leads from the front – and that person is councillor Crockett.”
Last night, Mr Crockett said the SNP should focus on the big picture of how to help the health board rather than “techy” internal politics.
“It is crucial time for the area. The Scottish Government has been making a crisis out of a problem,” he said.
“Everyone has to respond properly and I am certainly will to do whatever I can to help.”
Meanwhile, North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald demanded an assurance from the Scottish Government that Mr Howatson’s replacement lives and works in the region.
In a letter to the health secretary, he said: “The last thing the NHS in Grampian needs is a placeman or woman at the help who will simply do Edinburgh’s bidding.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The appointment of an interim and permanent chair for NHS Grampian by Scottish ministers will be made in accordance with the requirements of the code of practice issued by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.”