Recommendation SHI-1: Communication strategy for patients and families
From Scottish Hospitals Inquiry Interim Report, published 4 March 2025.
Recommendation
Health boards must ensure that in the event of any adverse situation that could affect the wellbeing of patients and their families, there is a communication strategy in place to liaise with this crucially important group. The Scottish Government should ensure that this liaison is supported in any overarching communication strategy it may wish to introduce.
In brief (written by this site)
In September 2025, Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, reported in a letter to Clare Haughey MSP, Convener of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, that "discussions between the Scottish Government and NHS Boards are actively taking place" to identify any gaps in communication planning and consider if national guidance is required (Neil Gray, Sep 2025). The record holds no update since the Scottish Government's response of September 2025 (Neil Gray response, Sep 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
On 13 March 2025, I made a statement in parliament, addressing the Interim Report and its recommendations. I accepted all recommendations and committed to provide a future update on progress around the implementation of those recommendations.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: The Cabinet Secretary's letter of 17 September 2025 to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee gives this passage once, for all 11 recommendations. It describes his statement of 13 March 2025, whose own words, recorded as a progress row here, are a commitment "to consider and address each of the 11 recommendations made in the interim report".
Delivery
Scottish Government says in progress (17 September 2025)
discussions between the Scottish Government and NHS Boards are actively taking place to identify any gaps in communication planning and consider if national guidance is required.
From: Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (SHI) - Update on actions taken by the Scottish Government to address the recommendations made by the SHI in its Interim Report on the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Department of Clinical Neuroscience (RHCYP DCN), Edinburgh, Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Scottish Government (13 March 2025)
The Scottish Government is committed to working with the health boards and other NHS bodies to consider and address each of the 11 recommendations made in the interim report.
From: Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (Interim Report) (Meeting of the Parliament, 13 March 2025), Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Site note: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care's statement to the Scottish Parliament on 13 March 2025 gives this sentence once, for all 11 recommendations of the interim report. In answer to a question in the same item he said: "We will respond formally to the inquiry’s 11 recommendations in due course."
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Scottish Government
Response, delivery statement