Scotland CNO Alex McMahon to retire in April 2024
The national chief nursing officer (CNO) for Scotland has announced that he will be retiring next year.
Professor Alex McMahon has been in the CNO role since the end of 2021, first on an interim basis before being appointed substantively.
Previously, Professor McMahon was the executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals for NHS Lothian.
He stepped into the national role following the departure of Amanda Croft, who served in the role for a brief period after the retirement of long-serving Scottish CNO Professor Fiona McQueen.
The Scottish Government has now confirmed that Professor McMahon will retire in April 2024.
Professor McMahon said it had been “a privilege being the CNO in Scotland”.
“After 40 years in nursing and health it is with real pride that I say I am a nurse and I love nursing and what we do for and with patients and their families,” he told Nursing Times.
“I will watch with interest to see how the profession grows from strength to strength in the years to come.”
Professor McMahon joined the Nursing and Midwifery Council register in 1986 as a mental health nurse before also qualifying as an adult nurse in 1989.
“After 40 years in nursing and health it is with real pride that I say I am a nurse”
Alex McMahon
During his nursing career, Professor McMahon has worked in the private and NHS sectors, and he holds two honorary professorships.
As well as his role at NHS Lothian, Professor McMahon’s previous positions have included being chair of the Scottish executive nurse directors’ group.
The Scottish Government paid tribute to Professor McMahon’s contribution to nursing in the country and said work would start next year to find his successor.
A spokesperson said: “Arrangements for the recruitment of a successor to Professor McMahon will progress in the new year.
“Professor McMahon has made an invaluable contribution to health leadership in Scotland over the course of his career.
“Throughout his time as CNO he has applied his great wealth of knowledge and experience to the role and we would like to wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement.”
