North-east Labour MSP Richard Baker has linked Alex Neil’s removal as health secretary to the crisis at NHS Grampian.
He called on Mr Neil’s replacement Shona Robison to “take seriously” the problems the board has been facing, which include recruitment difficulties and criticism of management by senior clinicians.
Mr Baker said: “I am sure failure to deal with the problems faced by NHS Grampian has played a role in Mr Neil’s departure.
“If Shona Robison continues in the same vein as her predecessor we can only expect the same damaging results.”
Fellow north-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said he planned to urge new justice secretary Michael Matheson to review the planned closures of Aberdeen’s police and fire control rooms.
“We have already heard horror stories from Dumfries and Galloway about the impact the closures there have had on the ability of police officers to do their jobs,” he said.
“This a golden opportunity for Mr Matheson to reverse some of the worst of Kenny MacAskill’s cuts and closures.”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said his party wished the new incumbents the best in their roles.
“As long as they pursue policies which support hardworking people and boost aspiration, they will have our support,” he said.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said it was right that Mr MacAskill had been removed as justice secretary because he was responsible for a host of controversial laws.
“Until the industrial levels of stop and search, the centralisation of local justice and plans to scrap corroboration are consigned to the same fate as Mr MacAskill, we will remain the only party standing up for a liberal, fairer Scotland,” he added.