Question reference: S6W-03985
- Asked by: Joe FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee City West, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 25 October 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 October 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to establish independent oversight and assurance of NHS Tayside’s mental health services, and to ensure there is ongoing support for the Tayside Executive Partnership in responding to the findings and recommendations from the independent inquiry, following Dr David Strang’s progress review, which was published in July 2021.
Answer
I have now appointed an independent group who will provide oversight and assurance. The group will work with the Tayside Executive Partnership to support progress in improving Tayside’s mental health services and ensure that the recommendations from the independent inquiry are fully implemented.
The group will be chaired by Fiona Lees, former Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council. She will be supported by David Williams, former Chief Officer of Glasgow City Integrated Joint Board and previously an Advisor on Integration to the Scottish Government; and Fraser McKinlay, former Controller of Audit and Director of Performance Audit and Best Value.
The Scottish Government takes the recommendations from the independent inquiry seriously and I believe the skill set and experience of these members are essential to providing the appropriate oversight of their implementation to improve mental health services in Tayside.
The Independent Oversight and Assurance Group on Tayside Mental Health Services will provide me with written updates on progress on a quarterly basis. The role of this group is also separate from that of the Tayside Executive Partnership which is expected to have its own collective assurance processes and remains accountable to the NHS Board and relevant Councils. This is a time-limited group, initially for a 12 month period. The timescales for its operation will be kept under review and as such, it will not become an established part of the governance landscape in Tayside.
I am determined that real and sustained progress is made in Tayside through the implementation of the independent inquiry recommendations and most importantly, that the people of Tayside receive the quality of mental health care which meets their needs and expectations, and that healthcare staff are appropriately supported and developed.