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.
- The Scottish Government's response discussed feedback, complaints, and governance arrangements but did not provide a clear commitment to ensuring non-executive board members or internal audit representatives participate in all internal investigations.
- The 'Governance for Quality Healthcare in Scotland' framework sets out governance standards for NHS boards, and HIS inspects governance arrangements. However, the specific requirement for non-executive or audit participation in internal investigations is a matter of local board policy.
- This recommendation has been partially addressed through governance frameworks, but there is limited evidence of a national standard mandating non-executive involvement in all internal investigations.
How was this evidence gathered?
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 progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates 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.