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Chamber and committees

Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 4 May 2021
  6. Current session: 13 May 2021 to 17 October 2025
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Displaying 1731 contributions

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Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

It sounds as though there is a bit of movement of professionals within the Scottish health service or the health and social care arena who will go from an IJB to an executive role within an NHS board, from one board to another, or from a management position on a board into a non-exec position on a board. Again, I can see why there may be benefits to that. People will have experience and knowledge of how things are done in other areas. However, equally, does that perhaps point to some problematic areas? People have perhaps failed in one part of the service and are moving to another, or is the predicament that we do not have enough new blood coming from outside Scotland into the Scottish health service?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

We also heard a lot in the previous session about some of the struggles that some of our more rural boards have in recruiting people. Indeed, the convener gave an excellent example of one board where some of the board members do not live in, or had never been to, the board area. Clearly, it is more difficult in a wide range of public bodies to recruit in more rural and Highlands and island areas, but how important is it that these people have local knowledge and understanding of the complexities of delivering health services outside the central belt?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Good. I think that I know what your answer will be to this, but are we struggling to get so many candidates to fill these board positions because there are simply too many boards?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Thank you very much.

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

I can tell you: it was the points. These are live conversations, which I am sure happen with sponsorship divisions as well, among the recruiting people. If someone does not get more than 70 points, and someone got 69, they are shortlisted for the next stage, and I find that an odd way of doing it.

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Would it be helpful if the commissioner was able to do that as part of its role?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Is that people behaving inappropriately in the public sphere in their language or the treatment of staff?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

That is quite worrying. My last question in this session—and indeed the next one—is on NHS boards. Do you have any current emerging concerns about behaviour in boards or the quality of board members? We are trying to get as much out of you as we can about the state of the NHS in Scotland.

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Thank you, convener. I would like to talk about governance, particularly around high-level appointments and the boards of the NHS boards, if you like. Ms Lamb, you will obviously be aware of the extremely high turnover in chief executives of the territorial boards. Over the past couple of years, 10 of the 14 territorial boards have had a change at the top. Why is that the case?

Public Audit Committee [Draft]

“NHS in Scotland: Spotlight on governance”

Meeting date: 24 September 2025

Jamie Greene

Is that a good thing? We talked about that earlier in our evidence session with the Ethical Standards Commissioner. I do not know whether you watched that.