Internal investigation independence
Health Boards should ensure that a non-executive Board Member or a representative from internal audit takes part in an Internal Investigation.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedSection 3.2 notes that the report addresses issues in NHS boards relating to internal investigations (recommendation 72). While the "Our current position" section discusses feedback, complaints, and the introduction of a statutory duty of candour to promote transparency and learning from adverse events, it does not explicitly detail how NHS boards ensure a non-executive Board Member or a representative from internal audit takes part in an Internal Investigation. Chapter 5 indicates that the Scottish Government has requested progress assessments from NHS boards on this and other recommendations.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Scottish Government response addressed internal investigation independence requirements through existing governance frameworks and the Code of Corporate Governance for NHS Scotland.
View detailed findings
No specific new mechanism mandating non-executive or internal audit participation in all internal investigations was publicly confirmed.