Alex McMahon

Chief Nursing Officer, Scottish Government

A man smiling, with short grey hair, wearing a light blue shirt, dark blue tie and dark blue blazer

Alex McMahon was appointed Chief Nursing Officer in January 2022.

Alex oversees the Chief Nursing Directorate in achieving the best health and care outcomes for people by working on patient, public and health professions policy, and support ministers and the NHS in delivering a safe, effective and person-centred health and social care system.

He was previously Executive Director for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Healthcare Professionals in NHS Lothian. As Chief Nursing Officer, Alex has professional responsibility for two thirds of the NHS Scotland workforce, as his role has responsibility for nursing, midwifery, allied healthcare professionals and healthcare scientists.

Alex also leads on a number of key policy areas, including infection prevention control. He has worked across the NHS, private sector, government and the Royal College of Nursing in previous posts and holds two honorary professorships with the University of Stirling and Queen Margaret University.