NHS Tayside Put In Special Measures By Health Minister - Update chairman Resigns

6th April 2018

Update 12.35pm

NHS Tayside chairman Resigns

From NHS Tayside Facebook

The Chairman of Tayside NHS Board Professor John Connell has tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

Professor Connell, said, "It has been an absolute privilege to provide leadership to NHS Tayside over the last 30 months; I am acutely aware of the outstanding efforts of all staff to deliver safe and effective healthcare to the population of the region. I have always maintained a focus on safe patient care and ensuring staff are supported to deliver that at all times. I am very pleased that this has not been compromised during a difficult financial period.

“I believe that NHS Tayside is set on the correct course to transform its services and maintain safe health and care for Tayside. I know that my successor will have the support of a superb group of healthcare professionals in taking this forward."

Health Minister has asked the Chairman of NHS Tayside to stand down and called into question the position of the Chief Executive.

Health Secretary Shona Robison has announced that she will be exercising Ministerial powers of intervention and moving NHS Tayside to the highest level of escalation.

She said:"Issues over past few weeks have laid bare the extent of the problems facing NHS Tayside and the minutes of a meeting of Trustees in 2014 outline, in detail, the approval of the use of endowment funds by the Chief Executive.

"It has become clear to me that the current structure of the Board cannot deliver the improvements required to return to a sustainable position, while continuing to deliver safe and effective services to patients. In particular, I have concerns about the overall management of the Board's finances and the ability of leadership to carry through the change required to bring the Board back into financial balance.

"As such, I will be exercising Ministerial powers of intervention and moving NHS Tayside to the highest level of escalation and I have instructed the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland to strengthen the leadership of NHS Tayside with immediate effect.

"It is imperative that all Boards use charitable donations for the purposes of which they were given. At my request, the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland has written to every NHS Board Chair seeking assurance that endowment monies are being spent for the correct purposes. We are also engaging directly with OSCR on this issue."

If the Cabinet Secretary is of the opinion that any functions of a health board are not being exercised adequately Ministers have the power of intervention under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978.

By way of background, Ministers have the power of intervention under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and these can be exercised if the Cabinet Secretary is of the opinion that any functions of a health board are not being exercised adequately. In line with these powers, she has instructed me, as Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, to strengthen the leadership of NHS Tayside with immediate effect.

Letter sent

To the Conveners of:

Parliament Audit and Post Legislative Scrutiny

Committee

Health and Sport Committee

5 April 2018

___

Dear Conveners

NHS Tayside

I am writing to you at the request of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport to let you know that she has decided that the current structure of the Board of NHS Tayside cannot deliver the improvements required to return to a sustainable position, while continuing to deliver safe and effective services to patients. In particular, she has concerns about the overall management of the Board's finances and the ability of leadership to carry through the

change required to bring the Board back into financial balance.

She will therefore be exercising her Ministerial powers of intervention and moving NHS Tayside to the highest level of escalation.

By way of background, Ministers have the power of intervention under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 and these can be exercised if the Cabinet Secretary is of the opinion that any functions of a health board are not being exercised adequately. In line with these powers, she has instructed me, as Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, to strengthen the leadership of NHS Tayside with immediate effect.

I am copying this to the Cabinet Secretary, and to the Auditor General for Scotland. I will update the Committee further as soon as I have more detail to add.

Signed by

Paul Gray

Director-General Health & Social Care and

Chief Executive NHS Scotland

5 April 2018