National incident response levels: guidance for health boards
Guidance to provide a strategic approach to managing any type and level of incident response impacting a health board’s capability to provide and maintain services and/or care to patients in Scotland.
5. Governance and Response Arrangements
5.1 Governance Arrangements
It is essential that effective governance arrangements are in place to support and evidence decision making in relation to any type and level of incident[3].
5.2 Local/Regional response
A local/regional response can be activated/escalated by a range of senior positions and command structures to lead the response at Levels 1-3.[4] It is the responsibility of the Health Board to agree and record such arrangements in relevant emergency planning documents.
5.3 National Response
A national Level 4 response can only be activated/escalated by :
a) Chief Executive, NHS Scotland
b) Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland
c) SGHSCD Head of Health EPRR Division
Local/Regional response will continue to provide ongoing support to Level 4 national response structures as required.
5.4 De-escalation
The decision to de-escalate incident response arrangements (in part or full) will be taken in consultation with the relevant post-holder and/or group responsible for the initial activation.
Caroline Lamb
Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General for Health and Social Care
John G Burns
Chief Operating Officer NHS Scotland
March 2024
Contact
Email: Health.EPRR@gov.scot
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