By Hannah Rodger, Sunday Mail chief reporter
The ex-chief medical officer, who quit the government role after breaking lockdown rules, put herself forward to be a charity trustee before she told the pandemic probe she was unable to attend.
Dr Catherine Calderwood resigned after flouting her own lockdown rules
Relatives whose loved ones died in the pandemic have questioned why Calderwood has now been indefinitely excused and said her testimony is vital to understand what happened.
Solicitor Aamer Anwar, who represents the Scottish Covid Bereaved group of relatives, said: “My clients appreciate that witnesses may well be distressed at giving evidence.
Last December the UK Covid Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett ruled that Calderwood would not have to give evidence at all.
She stated: “Having reviewed the medical evidence provided to me, I am satisfied that Dr Calderwood should be excused from further participation.”
Calderwood first submitted an excusal request on November 28, 2023. But the Sunday Mail has discovered that the doctor applied for a role as a Trustee of the Women In Sport charity in the days prior to asking to be excused from the inquiry.
On November 1, 2023, a trustee position was advertised with a closing date of November 24, 2023.
It is the only trustee vacancy advertised by the charity before Calderwood was announced as having been appointed to the role in May last year.
Despite being too unwell to attend the inquiry, Calderwood has also published three scientific papers as part of a prestigious job at Strathclyde University during the time she has been excused.
“She took up the role of Professor of Practice at the institution’s Health and Care Futures department in September 2023 and her research papers were submitted in February, June and November last year.
“Catherine Calderwood was a critical witness to our clients, after all she was at the heart of the Covid response in Scotland.
“Many of the Scottish Covid Bereaved were upset that Dr Calderwood sought to be excused from giving vital evidence, while she was clearly applying for and taking up public appointments. The chair’s recent ruling on her excusal was made on the basis of medical evidence, the view of the Scottish Covid Bereaved is that every opportunity should be taken to have Dr Calderwood present to give evidence in person or by a statement.
“It is however a matter of deep concern that Dr Calderwood has taken up two medical related public appointments which tends to suggest that she is fit enough to engage in relation to a medical environment.”
Calderwood was forced to resign as chief medical officer on April 5, 2020, after going to her holiday home in Fife when she was telling the public to stay at home.