SHI-9 Response Accepted

Documentation of technical adviser advice

Recommendation

I accordingly recommend that a similar procedure should be considered when technical advisers (particularly engineers) are providing specific technical advice in relation to a project such as the RHCYP and DCN. There should be a clear record of the advice requested, and the advice tendered. This should ensure that there is clarity around what expert input advisers are providing in circumstances where such input is required. This is particularly important where, as on the RHCYP and DCN project, the technical advisers work closely day-to-day with the health board's project team and are engaged in commenting on design or construction proposals. Such arrangements can lead to informality and a lack of clarity about the scope and role of the advice, and the reliance which can be placed upon it. In contrast, the approach I recommend should be such as to generate a sufficient body of evidence to support and document relevant decisions. This should contribute to more robust governance and oversight of decision making.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
- On 13 March 2025, Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP accepted this recommendation (Scottish Government Parliamentary Statement, 13 March 2025).
- No published formal procedure for recording technical advice from engineers on hospital projects has been identified to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Evidence searched by Claude (Anthropic) on 10 Apr 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The evidence above reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
13 Mar 2025

All 11 recommendations accepted by Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP on 13 March 2025.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
13 Mar 2025

Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray MSP accepted all 11 recommendations in a parliamentary statement on 13 March 2025.

Source
Report Scottish Hospitals Inquiry Interim Report 04 Mar 2025
Responsible Bodies
Scottish Government Primary
Recommendation age 1.3 yr
Last formal update 457 days ago