Communications relating to chemical incident October 2017: FOI release

Information requested

I would like to make a Freedom of Information request for information contained in communications between Jeane Freeman Cabinet Secretary for Health and the Scottish Government and NHS Grampian in relation to - Communications which stated, discussed, referred and in relation to: Local and National-level NHS managers and specialists in decontamination asked opinion on chemical incident October 2017.

And information contained in the opinion on the 2017 chemical incident. 

You further clarified that: 
The location of the incident was Aberdeen Royal Infirmary endoscopy unit. This incident is also referred to in a letter from Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to John Swinney, dated 14 August 2018 in which Ms Freeman states NHS Grampian has made consultations and enquiries and "will raise a national level incident report (IRIC) to formally address the need for clarification and to obtain additional assurance both for itself and for other Health Boards.

With the information requested in this FOI request I would also expect disclose of information contained in any national level incident report including when was the IRIC investigation raised and information contained in and any additional efficacy testing on site which the Scottish Government holds in relation to discussions with parties, including Mr Swinney.

Response

Attached is a copy of some of the information requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. We have searched our record systems for the incident report to which you refer, and are confident that we do not hold a copy. We have also contacted the Incident Reporting Investigation Centre, who have confirmed that NHS Grampian reported incidents related to endoscope decontamination to IRIC in 2017. As a part of their investigation, IRIC offered to perform audit at NHS Grampian's endoscope decontamination unit sites. This took place on 15th May 2018, with the report being sent to NHS Grampian on 20th June 2018. IRIC have advised us that in order to obtain a copy of this report, it would be necessary to contact NHS Grampian directly. 

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FOI202100175815 - Information released

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