The assurance & advisory group (AAG) was commissioned in March 2017 to work with NHS Tayside following concerns over the board’s performance and financial position.

Chair of the AAG, Prof Sir Lewis Ritchie, said:

“It has been a real privilege to support the recovery of NHS Tayside and I am confident, from their progress to date, that they have a sound foundation for the improvements that are now required. I have worked with an excellent team, and I have been especially grateful to Caroline Lamb for her support in this phase of the process.”

A report from Audit Scotland in December last year highlighted the “worsening financial position” of the board that required “urgent action”.

When reporting to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee in January 2019, NHS Tayside chair, John Brown, outlined action the board was taking to improve performance.

This included the adoption of a new approach where clinicians supported by managers were in charge of services, creating a “clinically-led organisation”. 

In a staging report published in June 2018, the AAG set out ten key recommendations to address concerns about NHS Tayside.

Areas of focus included the provision of medicines, robust financial planning, the development of a clinical strategy, and workforce planning.

Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, Jeane Freeman, commented:

“I welcome this latest report from the AAG which demonstrates the progress that NHS Tayside continues to make in key areas. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Sir Lewis and his team for their ongoing work.

“I would also like to thank John Brown and Malcolm Wright who have stabilised finances, improved governance and changed the way services are planned and managed by putting clinicians at the heart of decision-making. On the basis of these encouraging results, it is the right time to bring NHS Tayside into line with other Boards in a similar position and re-designate it as Stage 4 in the Board Escalation Framework.

“However, this is just the start of the journey for the new Chief Executive Grant Archibald in making services the best they can be for patients of NHS Tayside. We will continue to work closely with the Board in achieving its aims over the coming months and years.”