Jason Leitch criticised over TikTok advert plugging private healthcare firm
Professor Jason Leitch has been criticised after he appeared in an online advert promoting a private healthcare firm at a time Scotland's NHS continues to struggle.
In a video shared on TikTok and Instagram, the country's former national clinical director praised a "one of a kind" private hospital recently opened in central Glasgow by Elanic Medical.
Leitch, who helped lead Scotland's response to the covid pandemic, is a non-executive director with a focus on clinical governance at the healthcare firm.
Elanic has an established cosmetic surgery clinic in Glasgow but has now built a 15,000 sq ft hospital in Bath Street to provide more routine operations.
Leitch became a household name when he regularly stood alongside Nicola Sturgeon as the then first minister delivered her daily covid briefings in 2020 and 2021. He announced he was stepping down as national clinical director in March 2024, shortly after he gave evidence at the UK Covid Inquiry.In the social media ad, Leitch said: "I'm on the board here at Elanic. I'm responsible, along with a host of other people, for the safety and governance of the care and services here. It's fantastic to be back at the Elanic hospital and see it fully functioning, with loads of specialties now, seeing patients on a daily basis.
"Orthopaedics, plastic surgery, urology, gynaecology, bariatric surgery - all getting care and service right in the centre of Glasgow with real state of the art operating theatres."
Leitch continued: "It's fantastic to see Elanic at the forefront of modern care. It's now becoming routine for patients to go home on the same day and that's no different here, particularly for orthopaedics.
"It's been terrific to see this project from the plans on a piece of paper to what is now a state of the art facility in central Glasgow. I think it's probably one of a kind, with operating theatres, outpatient clinics, and bedrooms with en suite facilities. It's fantastic to see it grow from the architects' drawings right up to what is now a fully functioning hospital."
Alba MSP Ash Regan said some Scots would be left feeling "scunnered" after seeing a former senior NHS figure promoting a private healthcare firm.
She told the Record: "Jason Leitch built his public profile during the pandemic as Scotland's national clinical director as a trusted voice at the heart of our NHS.
"Seeing him fronting TikTok adverts for a private healthcare company, where he sits on the board, sends a deeply mixed message about the Government's priorities and commitment to our NHS.
"The public is rightly scunnered. Time and again, we see the revolving door for those paid by the public purse to lead and represent public services going on to use that platform to cash in on private interests."
Leitch faced criticism during the UK Covid Inquiry last year over the mass deletion of his WhatsApp messages. One message which was retrieved showed him saying: "WhatsApp deletion is a pre-bed ritual."
When asked about the comments, he said: "It's an exaggeration. I didn't daily delete my WhatsApp."
A spokeswoman for Elanic Medical said: "We believe that only by working together can the private sector effectively support the NHS in reducing waiting times and improving patient outcomes.
"As of March 2025, over 559,000 patients in Scotland were still waiting for outpatient appointments, with more than 63,000 waiting over a year, and over 5,200 waiting more than two years—the highest number ever recorded. These figures highlight the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ease the burden on the NHS and ensure timely access to care."
The Record asked the Scottish Government for comment.
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