Former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in 2008 accepted review recommendations to close NHS Grampian funding gap.
Nicola Sturgeon is tomorrow morning expected to announce she is seeking the SNP leadership and post of First Minister.
The deputy first minister, 44, is holding a press conference in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
First Minister Alex Salmond announced he would be standing down from both roles on Friday after Scottish independence was rejected by two million voters.
Ms Sturgeon, deputy leader of the SNP, has the support of all party MSPs from across the north and north-east.
Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, called her a “worthy successor” to Mr Salmond.
Ms Sturgeon also has the backing of the Scottish cabinet and her appointment would mean the three largest parties in the Scottish Parliament would all be led by women.
Finance Secretary John Swinney, who led the party between 2000-2004, said many members would “rejoice” if Ms Sturgeon was chosen because it would be “another glass ceiling in our country that has been shattered”.
