Question ref. S6W-00572
Asked by: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 9 June 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework and the NHS boards that are currently escalated.
Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 10 June 2021
Answer
Prior to the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, there were six Health Boards in Scotland who had been escalated to Stage 3 or above within the NHS Boards Performance Escalation Framework. This is the stage at which Boards are considered to require a higher level of support and oversight, from Scottish Government and/or other senior external support.
Boards can be escalated for a number of different reasons and can have more than one status, reflecting their individual positions. Reasons for escalation include:
- Financial position and financial management
- Operational Delivery/Performance
- Governance, leadership and culture
- Quality and safety
The six escalated Boards escalated were as follows:
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran
- NHS Borders
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
- NHS Lothian
- NHS Highland
- NHS Tayside
Following a recent review of escalated Boards by the Health and Social Care Management Board, and despite the challenges of responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the majority of Boards were found to have demonstrated sufficient improvement in relation to the issues which had led to their escalation to justify a reduction in their escalation status. The following table shows the changes which have now been made.
Board | Current Stage after Review | Previous Stage (date) | Primary Factors Influencing Escalation |
NHS Ayrshire & Arran | 3 | 3 (July 2018) | Financial position and management |
NHS Borders | 3
| 4 (Nov 2018) | Financial position and management; |
2 | Governance and leadership | ||
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde | 4 |
4 (Nov 19/Jan 20) | QEUH & RHC (Infection control and related issues) |
2 | Performance and Service Delivery – including strengthening management capability and capacity | ||
NHS Highland |
3 |
4 (Nov 2018) | Financial position and financial management; Governance, leadership and culture Mental Health Performance |
NHS Lothian | 1
| 4 (Sept 2019) | Royal Hospital for Children and Young People |
2
|
3 (July 2019) | Performance and Service Delivery:
| |
3 | Mental Health Performance | ||
NHS Tayside | 3 | 4 (Feb 2019) | Mental Health Performance |
2 | Financial position and financial management and governance and leadership |
Scottish Government officials will continue to closely monitor Board performance during this challenging period. Those Boards who remain at Stage 3 or above will continue to receive enhanced support and scrutiny of progress against their plans for improvement.