Public Audit Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Official Report 310KB pdf

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Public Audit Committee Report (Response)

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“Review of orthopaedic services”

I convene the Public Audit Committee’s second meeting in 2011. I have apologies from Nicol Stephen; John Farquhar Munro is here in his place. We also have apologies from Anne McLaughlin; Linda Fabiani attends in her place. No declarations of interest are required. I remind members to ensure that all electronic devices are switched off, despite their possible interest in pursuing what is happening in other places.

Agenda item 1 is on the committee’s report “Review of orthopaedic services”. Members have a letter and an appendix with a detailed response from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing. The response is full, positive and constructive. I am pleased that the Scottish Government is taking seriously the recommendations that we made and the items that Audit Scotland highlighted in its report. The Audit Scotland report has helped to progress the issue considerably and the cabinet secretary’s response has aided that.

We should probably note the response. Do members want to say anything specific about it?

The Auditor General for Scotland’s report was positive and, like the convener, I was pleased to see the cabinet secretary’s detailed response. The one issue that I recall pulling out of the report was the length of time for which some patients remain in hospital—members might recall that. Even on that subject, the response to paragraphs 79 and 80 of our report is positive. Altogether, the cabinet secretary’s response is positive.

Do members agree to note the response?

Members indicated agreement.

We now go into private session to consider our draft report on “The Gathering 2009”.

10:03 Meeting continued in private until 11:36.