NHS FIFE chairman Allan Burns has unexpectedly announced his resignation, as the Kingdom continues to grapple with a GP crisis and financial pressures.

Mr Burns made the shock announcement at the health board's annual review on Thursday, which was also attended by Health Secretary Shona Robison.

Paying tribute to the organisation and staff, he said it had been “a privilege and honour to serve alongside caring and committed staff”.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Burns said: “A new era of significant change in healthcare delivery is just beginning and I believe NHS Fife would be best served by a continuity of commitment from a chairman that stretches beyond the remainder of my term.

“I leave NHS Fife in the very capable hands of chief executive Paul Hawkins and his executive team.”

Mr Burns, who was awarded a CBE for services to Scottish industry in 2006, will remain in post until the end of the year.

The annual review also highlighted NHS Fife's “improved performance” over the past year, with key waiting times singled out for praise.

Chief executive Paul Hawkins said it was “particularly satisfying” to note that waiting times for crucial services, including A&E, 31-day cancer treatment and outpatient appointments, continued to be above the Government-set standard and national average.

Over the last 12 months, the health board had three unannounced assessments by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate, all of which recognised “significantly improved performance” on previous visits.

Service redesign at Victoria Hospital meant more A&E patients – 96.6 per cent – were seen within the four-hour target, exceeding the Scottish average of 94.1 per cent, and innovations around the way patients are assessed on arrival reduced the number of admissions by 25 per cent.

In addition, 97 per cent of patients diagnosed with cancer began their treatment within 31 days, 98.5 per cent of inpatients were seen within the 18-week treatment time guarantee, and 96.2 per cent of outpatients were seen within the same timeframe – all beating the national average.

Mr Hawkins said: “NHS is committed to ensuring patients have access to safe, effective, high-quality care when they require it.”

There will also be a change at Fife's health and social care partnership, with Rona Laing set to replace Councillor Andrew Rodger as chair of the Integration Joint Board.

Ms Laing served 31 years with Fife Council's social work service, and was head of older people services before retiring in 2012.

She has since worked across NHS Fife and the council as the programme manager for health and social care integration, and is a non-executive director of the NHS Fife Board and chair of the NHS Fife audit committee.