THE woman who has led some of the biggest and most controversial changes to Clydebank’s health services has announced she is to retire.

Catriona Renfrew, director of planning for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, will leave in June after 20 years in one of Scotland’s most high powered jobs.

Ms Renfrew said she was retiring to focus on “other interests and opportunities”.

The NHS boss was instrumental in drawing up plans to close the cherished Queen Mum’s maternity hospital, despite major public opposition.

Ms Renfrew, who joined the NHS in Bristol in 1985, also led the acute services review which recommended the city should have just two A&E services at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the then Southern General.

More recently she has been at the forefront of proposals to close Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow, a children’s ward at the Royal Alexandra hospital in Paisley and the inpatient ward at the Centre for Integrative Care.

However, less controversially, she has also been responsible for setting ambitious targets to improve the city’s health. including cutting waiting times for heart and cancer patients.

She said: “I feel genuinely privileged to have worked for our most important public service.

“Over the last 32 years I have been inspired by so many staff, and also by the patients we serve.

“I am proud to have played a part in supporting and reshaping the care the NHS delivers to better serve our patients and I will continue to focus on contributing to that over the next four months.”

“I am now looking forward to pursuing other interests and opportunities.”