The First Minister has slammed Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer’s actions after she flouted her own (coronavirus lockdown rules at the weekend.
Dr Catherine Calderwood resigned from her post yesterday after she was criticized for visiting her family’s holiday home in Fife, two weekends in a row.
The – year-old was pictured visiting the holiday home with her family which led to Police Scotland later issuing her a warning at her Edinburgh home.
Dr Calderwood then confessed that she had also taken a trip to the holiday home with her husband the previous weekend wh en she appeared at a government briefing alongside the First Minister on Sunday afternoon.
She was widely condemned for her actions which broke all ‘Stay at Home’ guidance issued by Scottish Government.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the First Minister assured the public there ‘is not one rule for her and another for everyone else’.
Nicola Sturgeon herself came under fire after she allowed Dr Calderwood to remain in her position despite the allegations coming to light.
Speaking to Suzanna Reid and Piers Morgan she said: “The reason Catherine Calderwood resigned last night is because I’m not prepared to have the vital public health message undermined .
“I won’t defend her. People can disagree with my judgement during that day but my decisions are based in good faith. “
” As First Minister I am trying to do the things that can best steer me through these unprecedented times.
“Catherine Calderwood’s advice to me has been good, high quality advice but it does not excuse her actions.
She told Piers Morgan: “It is not ok to go to a second home. There isn’t one rule for her and one for everyone else. It’s not an exception.
“Her behavior risked the clarity of our message ‘Stay Home Save Lives’.
“Ultimately I took the decision that she had to leave office. Her actions risked outweighing our vital message.
“For somebody in my position, changing chief medical officer right now isn’t great. I am trying to make the best judgements I can and my sole focus is to guide our country though this. “
In a statement on Sunday night Dr Calderwood, who previously offered an apology for failing to Properly follow the guidelines on not traveling away from home, said: “I am deeply sorry for my actions and the mistakes I have made.
” The First Minister and I have had a further conversation this evening and we have agreed that the justifiable focus on my behavior risks becoming a distraction from the hugely important job that government and the medical profession has to do in getting the country through this coronavirus pandemic.
“Having worked so hard on the government response, that is the last thing I want.
“The most important thing to me now and over the next few very difficult months is that people across Scotland know what they need to do to reduce the spread of this virus and that means they must have complete trust in those who give them advice.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign as Chief Medical Officer.
Nicola Sturgeon on GMB (Image: ITV)
“I will work with my team over the next few days to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Dr Calderwood’s advice to me, to the government and to people across Scotland over the past few weeks has been the right advice. People should continue to stay at home to protect the NHS and to save lives.
“It is however clear that the mistake she made – even though she has apologized sincerely and honourably for it – risks distracting from and undermining confidence in the government public health message at this crucial time. That is not a risk either of us is willing to take.
“Catherine has been a transformational CMO, bringing changes to the way medicine is delivered in Scotland and in particular using her experience to bring an overdue focus to women’s health. Also, as I said earlier, her advice to me on Coronavirus will be missed – which is why she will work to ensure a smooth transition in the days ahead.
“While she has made a very serious mistake in her actions, that should not detract from the fact that as CMO she has made a highly valuable contribution to the medical profession and to health in Scotland, and I have no doubt she will continue to do so in future. She leaves office with my thanks and admiration. ”
Earlier on Sunday evening, Sturgeon confirmed Dr Calderwood was withdrawing from the daily updates and would also no longer feature in the Scottish Government’s advertising campaign.
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Coronavirus in Scotland
Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said officers had visited Dr Calderwood and issued a warning about her conduct.
Livingstone said in a statement: “Earlier today, local officers visited Dr Catherine Calderwood and spoke to her about her actions, reiterated crucial advice and issued a warning about her future conduct, all of which she accepted.
“The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone. Social distancing is the key intervention to curtail the spread of coronavirus and it is essential that the instructions are followed to protect each other, take strain from the NHS and save lives.
“Individuals must not make personal exemptions bespoke to their own circumstances.”
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