Strengthening NHS leadership

Moves to strengthen leadership across NHS Scotland as well as additional direction and support for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been announced by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman.

In November NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was escalated to Stage 4 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework for ongoing issues relating to infection prevention, management and control at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children.

Following recent performance, the Health Secretary has taken the decision to escalate the health board as a whole to Stage 4 with principal areas of support concentrating on scheduled care, unscheduled care, primary care out of hours, finance and culture and leadership.

To facilitate this support, Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, has been appointed as Turnaround Director at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to directly manage operational delivery.

He will report to the Chief Executive from a governance perspective, but also report in to the Scottish Government (through the Performance Oversight Group) on all matters including progress and the extent to which the existing management team are working in a collaborative manner to achieve the stated aims.

In addition, steps to support capacity at Chief Executive level have also been taken within NHS Highland and NHS Orkney.

Iain Stewart, Chief Executive of NHS Highland will take up an executive role within NHS Orkney ahead of taking on the role of Chief Executive after the phased retirement of current Chief Executive Gerry O’Brien.

Paul Hawkins, Chief Executive of NHS Fife, will be seconded to NHS Highland as interim Chief Executive.

Ms Freeman said:

“All of us, rightly, have high expectations of our NHS and I’m focused on improving performance and delivery across the system in order to provide the best care possible for the people of Scotland.

“In order to provide additional direction and support to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde I have taken the decision to escalate the board as a whole to stage 4 of the Performance Escalation Framework. Calum Campbell as Turnaround Director will provide an increased level of scrutiny and intervention.

“In addition, I have made a number of senior management changes which will enhance leadership capacity and better align skills and experience across NHS Scotland.

“In his role as Chief Executive of NHS Highland Iain Stewart has established a culture programme for NHS Highland and worked to bring significant stability to the health board. This crucial work will now be taken forward by Paul Hawkins who brings considerable skill and experience as an established NHS Chief Executive. I am confident he will successfully take forward the next phase of the board’s culture programme.”

Background

Link to GIQ response.

NHS Scotland and Integration Authorities consolidated financial reporting: 2019-2020.

Iain Stewart will leave his position at NHS Highland the week commencing 27 January and take on an executive role within NHS Orkney, with the intention of becoming Chief Executive and Accountable Officer upon the retirement of the current post holder, Gerry O’Brien, who has commenced a phased retirement.

The Chief Executive Officer of NHS Fife, Paul Hawkins, will be seconded to NHS Highland as interim Chief Executive from 27 January 2020. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NHS Fife, Carol Potter, will assume the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer following Paul’s departure.

Calum Campbell will begin his role as Turnaround Director from the week beginning 27 January. Heather Knox, Director of Acute Services and Deputy Chief Executive NHS Lanarkshire, will be Acting Chief Executive and assume day-to-day responsibility for operational delivery in NHS Lanarkshire during the period of Calum’s appointment as Turnaround Director.