NHS Fife Chief Executive, Carol Potter has today announced her intention to take early retirement following a long and distinguished career in the NHS spanning more than 30 years.
Carol took up post as Interim Chief Executive in January 2020 and was formally appointed to the permanent Chief Executive role in September 2020. Prior to this, she held senior financial leadership posts in NHS Fife (including Director of Finance) and across NHS Forth Valley, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian. She is a business graduate of Abertay University, a Chartered Public Finance Accountant and an Honorary Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Over her tenure as Chief Executive, Carol has steered NHS Fife through one of the most challenging periods in health and social care. She led the organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after taking up the interim role, ensuring the safe care of patients, supporting staff and sustaining essential services during unprecedented disruption and the ongoing recovery and modernisation of health and care services across Fife.
Under her leadership, NHS Fife has made major strides in improving patient care, investing in innovation, and strengthening its partnership with Fife College and the University of St Andrews, work which culminated in NHS Fife being granted University Health Board status earlier this year.
Other highlights during her tenure include the delivery of the new Orthopaedic National Treatment Centre Fife and the expansion of community-based services to support care closer to home.
The development of NHS Fife’s Population Health and Wellbeing Strategy reinforced the organisation’s commitment to tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for the people of Fife and ensuring the organisation remains focused on its core mission of safe, effective, person-centred care for the people of Fife.
Speaking about her decision, Carol Potter said:
“It has been a privilege to serve as Chief Executive of NHS Fife and to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues across health and social care. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together, particularly in our response to the pandemic, our focus on continuous improvement and learning, and our shared commitment to delivering safe, effective, person-centred care for the people of Fife.
“As I prepare to retire, I remain deeply committed to NHS Fife and confident in the strength and resilience of the organisation. Our leadership framework and values-led culture are now firmly embedded, providing stability and clarity during this transition. We have also made important progress in strengthening our financial sustainability, with strong governance and focused transformation laying the foundations for long-term improvement.
“I leave knowing NHS Fife has dedicated leaders, a clear direction, and a culture of continuous learning, giving me complete confidence in its future and its ability to continue delivering high-quality care for the people of Fife.
“After more than 30 years in the NHS, I feel the time is right to hand over to a new Chief Executive who will continue to build on this strong foundation. I would like to thank staff across NHS Fife for their professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our patients and communities.”
The NHS Fife Chair, Pat Kilpatrick, said:
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Carol for her outstanding leadership and contribution to NHS Fife and to the wider NHS in Scotland. Her dedication to improving health services and outcomes for the people of Fife has been exemplary, and she leaves a strong legacy for her successor to build upon. We wish her every happiness in her retirement.”
“While we mark the Chief Executive’s retirement, our focus remains firmly on continuity and the work ahead. NHS Fife has a strong and experienced leadership team in place, and the Board is fully committed to maintaining stability and delivering on our priorities in the months ahead.
“I am now working with colleagues to coordinate the recruitment of a new Chief Executive to ensure a seamless transition.”
Carol Potter will formally step down in Summer 2026 and arrangements will now be made to appoint a new Chief Executive.
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