The former head of NHS Tayside received a pay-off of more than £300,000 when she left the health board, an MSP has claimed.

Lesley McLay left her post last week after taking sick leave in April, when she was told she could not continue in the job.

The NHS Tayside management team was replaced after money from a charity fund was used to pay for a new IT system.

But Labour MSP Jenny Marra alleged on Monday that Ms McLay had received a £300,000 pay-off when she left the health board on July 31.

NHS Tayside described the allegation as "categorically untrue".

Ms Marra said said: "If that is the case it is a real slap in the face for patients and staff in NHS Tayside. This is taxpayers' money.

"Lesley McLay presided over NHS Tayside at a time where they were in financial disarray."

Asked what kind of message it sends out, Ms Marra replied: "I think it sends out the message that you can do a bad job in the public sector and still walk out the door with a payment well in excess of a quarter of a million pounds.

"It is really not good enough."

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: "The claims made about any sum of money received by Ms McLay are categorically untrue.

"As with any NHS Tayside employee, Ms McLay received what she was contractually entitled to and nothing more upon leaving the organisation."