Health Secretary will be ‘demanding transparency’ at every level in NHS Grampian

The Scottish Government’s Health Secretary has said she will be “demanding transparency” at every level within NHS Grampian following a damning safety report.

Health Secretary Angela Constance spoke on BBC Radio Scotland after a report from Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) “identified serious weaknesses in all aspects of leadership and management of the medical workforce across the acute sector of NHS Grampian”.

The review, which was instigated by NHS’s Grampian’s chief executive, highlighted “serious concerns” after a patient died during surgery as a result of complications.

HIS said a review of what happened made a “major omission” by “not meaningfully examining” the actions, clinical decision-making, and operative techniques of the surgeons involved.

This was said to be a “concerning and unjustifiable failure of governance and a missed opportunity to improve patient safety”.

The HIS report also revealed that although NHS Grampian temporarily suspended paediatric surgery at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin on July 9, this was not “fully enacted”.

While surgery was suspended because of concerns over the ability to provide “safe and effective care for critically unwell paediatric patients”, NHS Grampian later notified HIS that paediatric dental and ENT surgery had, in fact, continued until August 6.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast show previous BMA Scotland chairman and GP in the Highlands Dr Iain Kennedy said the report is “extremely concerning and very distressing for patients and healthcare staff alike.”

He continued: “And what we’re seeing is multiple cultural and leadership issues which have been identified, and sadly, I don’t think this is unique to NHS Grampian and probably would be mirrored across the other 13 health boards in Scotland.”

Dr Kennedy also said that he believed “there is a culture of fear and cover-up in the NHS in Scotland.”

Also speaking on the show, Health Secretary Angela Constance responded: “I will be demanding full transparency at every level within NHS Grampian.

“And I’ve been very clear with the chief executive and the new chair that if there are further changes that are required in terms of leadership, that my expectation would be of any board to make the necessary changes because we have to rebuild patient trust and the trust of the community.”

She continued: “This report has to be a line in the sand.

“It has to be a catalyst for change, what will deliver improvements now but also sustainably and in the longer term for the future.

“Because this is not acceptable, and it must change, and it will change.”

Laura Skaife-Knight accepted that “the report makes for very tough reading” adding that it “describes features of our leadership, governance and culture which are unacceptable and which cannot continue”.

The NHS Grampian chief executive confirmed “immediate changes” had been made to medical leadership at the health board, with an interim medical director due to start on Monday November 16.

But she said: “Most concerning are the unacceptable delays in investigating and implementing learning from incidents involving patient care which can prevent us from making the changes necessary to keep patients safe.”

Adding that the “findings will cause concern to our local community” she said a dedicated phone line has been set up on 08085 202030 “for anyone who has specific concerns and wants to speak to us”, with this available from 8am to 6pm on weekdays from today.

She also stressed: “Our focus is now about responding at pace to the feedback and making the improvements needed that are now long overdue.”