Chamber and committees

Question reference: S6W-44402

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12 March 2026
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Neil Gray on 13 March 2026

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to commitment given by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 27 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on the progress of NHS Tayside’s investigation into the destruction of theatre logbooks, and what further information will be offered on the progress of this process.

Answer

I have been advised by NHS Tayside that external investigators AAB began their formal investigation in February 2026, and that they are independently analysing all the documents they have requested to date, with further documentation being identified and new information requested as witness interviews progress and additional evidence is heard.

The agreed scope of the investigation is to:

Review NHS Tayside’s systems, processes, actions and governance arrangements in response to the Do Not Destroy notice
Examine NHS Tayside’s internal investigation to assess whether the Health Board has a full and accurate understanding of how the destruction occurred
Identify any systemic or procedural weaknesses that contributed to the incident
Provide recommendations to strengthen controls and prevent recurrence.

NHS Tayside has indicated it expects to receive its final investigation report and recommendations during the first week in April. The report will then be considered by NHS Tayside’s board and next steps agreed. The First Minister has written to the Chief Executive of NHS Tayside to ask that she keep former patients updated with any developments in the weeks ahead.

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