Question reference: S5W-08544
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 31 March 2017
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 18 April 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reported statements by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that Healthcare Improvement Scotland is auditing its own performance and conducting its own surveys.
Answer
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report which was published in February 2016, highlighted the need for a responsive and flexible approach to health system governance, which balances national and local roles.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is a non departmental public body which operates independently of ministers and the health service. The performance of HIS is scrutinised at regular public Board meetings by Non-Executive Directors and, in accordance with the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, external auditors appointed by the Auditor General for Scotland review performance and governance annually.
It provides improvement support, which can be tailored to partners’ circumstances; evidence for improvement, including clinical guidelines and advice on best practice; and public assurance on the quality of services that are provided. This approach recognises that inspection alone will not drive improvement and having improvement, evidence and assurance, along with the public voice, in one organisation provides a simple and effective organisational structure for improving the quality of care in Scotland.
HIS has a wide range of powers at its disposal including the ability to direct an NHS board to close a ward to new admissions on the grounds of safety.