Inverclyde Royal Hospital repairs meetings: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for all minutes, notes, action logs, agendas, briefings, or records relating to meetings between the Scottish Government (including ministers, elected members special advisers, civil servants, or directorates) and NHS Glasgow Greater and Clyde, where Inverclyde Royal Hospital repairs were discussed. The date range for this request is from 1 January 2019.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because exemptions under the following sections of FOISA apply to that information:

• s.30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice)
• s.30(b)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views)

These exemptions are subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemptions. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding these exemptions.

We recognise that there is some public interest in releasing this information, however, there is a need for NHS Boards and officials to have a private space to seek advice, exchange views and discuss options before reaching a settled public view. Disclosing the content of such advice and discussions would substantially inhibit the free and frank provision of advice and exchange of views in the future.

NHS Boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC), have their own capital budgets for repairs and maintenance, and are responsible for planning and managing these budgets. Routine repairs funded from these delegated budgets are managed locally by NHS Boards. There are therefore repairs that are not discussed with or communicated to the Scottish Government.

With regards to Scottish Government allocations over and above delegated capital budgets, work with health boards, including NHS GGC, is in progress to develop a whole-system NHS infrastructure plan.

This will inform strategic investment priorities across the NHS estate – supporting continued safe operation of existing facilities and determination of longer-term investment priorities.

The first step has been to support business continuity which, following a review of Boards’ risk-based priorities (submitted to Scottish Government in January 2025), has highlighted a number of issues, including external works at Inverclyde Royal Hospital (IRH). We have therefore agreed to fund the design work for replacing the hospital’s façade and will make a decision on funding the façade replacement when the design is complete and full costs are known.

The second phase is focussed on the longer-term development of the estate to meet national, regional and local needs. All health boards have been asked to undertake strategic needs assessments for submission by 1 April 2027. NHS GGC is expected to consider IRH as part of that work. Returns will be considered on a whole of Scotland basis.

You may find Director’s Letter DL 2025-15 helpful, which provides further information on NHS whole system infrastructure planning.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.