Kathryn Brechin

MBA, BA (Hons), RGN, Dip (ILM), Dip (Coaching), ENB A27, ENB 998, ENB 237

Kathryn took up post as Nurse Director for NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and Public Health Scotland (PHS) in February 2025. She brings a wealth of experience in clinical leadership, policy development, and quality improvement across our NHS in Scotland and the wider UK health care system.

Prior to this, Kathryn held a joint role as Nurse Director in NHS Tayside (two days per week) and as a Professional Adviser in the Scottish Government (three days a week), working within the Chief Nursing Officer's Directorate as part of the Policy Team.

In her dual role, she led key national programmes including the Health Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 and Excellence in Care and supported the national eRostering implementation – providing professional leadership, advice, and guidance to these programmes and across a range of strategic initiatives. This arrangement proved highly beneficial, enabling valuable shared learning and strengthening connections between policy and healthcare delivery.

Before joining the Scottish Government in July 2022, Kathryn was the Operational Nurse Director in NHS Tayside. Her earlier career was both successful and rewarding, as she broadened her experience across clinical practice through a number of key roles in NHS hospitals and trusts across England. She developed expertise in oncology and haematology nursing following her graduation from Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh.

In 2004, Kathryn returned to Scotland, initially working at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh before taking up the role of Clinical Nurse Manager at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, where she remained for nine enriching years. She later joined NHS Fife as Head of Nursing for Quality and Interim Associate Nurse Director, where she worked closely with colleagues to support the introduction of revalidation for registrants, promote professional leadership, and advance patient safety and person-centred care – before moving north to join NHS Tayside.

A passionate advocate of lifelong learning, Kathryn has embraced both formal education and training, as well as the diverse learning opportunities and experiences offered through nursing practice and healthcare leadership.

Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys life in beautiful Fife, sailing, dog walking, and being a mum to two boys.