NHS Tayside transformation

An independent advisory group will work with NHS Tayside to provide extra support and advice on the board’s five year transformation programme.

The Assurance Advisory Group will work with Tayside’s senior management team to provide additional expertise on financial planning and transformational change. It will be chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie, and will report back to Paul Gray, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, within three months.

This measure, known as independent assurance, is part of the Scottish Government’s approach to helping NHS boards. In recent years, similar steps have been taken successfully to support NHS Grampian and NHS Lanarkshire to deliver their own transformation programmes.

Professor Ritchie will be supported by Professor Stephen Logan, Chair of NHS Grampian, and Paul Hawkins, Chief Executive of NHS Fife. Further support will be made available as required.

Mr Gray said:

“NHS Tayside has put in place a transformation programme to deliver improved services to patients and better cost effectiveness. This plan sets out how the board will achieve financial balance.

“The advisory group I have appointed, chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie, will work with NHS Tayside to help them deliver this programme. I have asked them to report back to me within three months on the robustness of the plan and the progress made to date.

“This measure is part of our approach to performance management of NHS boards. I am confident it will help NHS Tayside to put in place the steps required to achieve a sustainable financial balance.” 

Professor John Connell, Chair of NHS Tayside, added:

"The Board of NHS Tayside welcomes the support which will be provided by the Assurance Advisory Group . The wealth of experience of the members will bring further external perspective to the planning and delivery of our transformational programme. Against the background of the scale of challenge we face, the additional capacity the group will provide is also welcomed as we acknowledge our staff are working hard to deliver the day-to-day care and treatment for patients, their families and communities, at the same time as planning to transform services."