By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

TRIBUTE WAS paid to the retiring chairman of NHS Tayside yesterday—leavened by Peter Bates’ incisive judgment on himself.

A master of his brief with a phenomenal work rate that has not waned despite the ravages of terminal cancer on his slight body, Mr Bates gives short shrift to anyone failing to meet his exacting standards.

When the board of NHS Tayside came under scrutiny yesterday for its performance over the last year and its plans for the future, Mr Bates was given credit for leading an organisation that is the envy of other health boards across Scotland for achievement and innovation.

At the annual review of NHS Tayside, public health minister Shona Robison, conducting the meeting for the first time, was effusive in her praise of Mr Bates.

Ms Robison said he took on the role over seven years ago when Tayside was hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

She credited Mr Bates with regaining public confidence in its local health services and driving through a programme of change that has delivered benefits for patients.

But Mr Bates said that while he was “accountable” it was the teams of dedicated staff committed to delivering quality care that made NHS Tayside what he described as “the top NHS system in Scotland.”

He said everyone from the operating theatres to the laundry room had a part to play, and it was these people that patients, sometimes, trusted their lives to.

There would always be difficulties and complaints about NHS services from people who wanted to see things done differently.

He respected that, but urged people never to underestimate how “fortunate” Tayside was to have dedicated health professionals.

“My style is sometimes a little bit difficult, relentless and demanding in seeking to improve services and make change but they have responded with vitality and leadership,” said Mr Bates.

“Any praise should be directed to them, not to me. I am the person to whom you address any criticism.

“I’m accountable for making sure we meet our targets and deliver services.”

Around 200 people gathered in the assembly hall at Craigie High, Dundee, for the public meeting.

The authority spends over £2 million a day delivering health services across Tayside and the event is an opportunity to showcase success and innovation as well as be challenged.

In his review of the year, Mr Bates highlighted many of the new services and big investments in health improvement that have been reported in this newspaper.

His team was scrutinised on waiting times targets, alcohol programmes, improving access to dental services, moving people from acute hospitals to more appropriate care settings, infection control and a whole range of issues challenging all NHS systems.

“Almost without exception we have delivered, particularly on the big ticket issues,” said Mr Bates.

A question submitted by a member of the public, claiming there was little for sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome in Tayside and asking what facilities were proposed for these patients, highlighted the difficult choices those providing services within limited budgets have to make.

After pointing out how CFS patients were looked after, and stating that NHS Tayside followed national recommendations on care of CFS, Mr Bates said, “Everything cannot be a priority.

“We do have to make choices in how we allocate money and spend that money.”