NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: Chief Operating Officer Safety and Assurance Oversight Group Minutes: 12 June 2026

Attendees and apologies

Attendees
(Chair) – Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland
Deputy Chief Nursing Officer
Deputy Director, Planning & Quality
Deputy Director, Chief Nursing Officer
Professional Nurse Adviser, Healthcare Associated Infections
Deputy Director Health Infrastructure and Sustainability
Head, Leadership, Talent Management and Partnership Unit
Deputy Director, Division Solicitor
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer
Head of Health Sponsorship
Secretariat

Apologies
Deputy Director, Information Scrutiny & Governance
Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Unit Head, Planning & Quality
Head of HCAI and AMR Unit
Unit Head of Information Governance Response Unit
Chief Nursing Officer
Deputy Director of Leadership, Culture and Wellbeing

Items and actions

Welcome
The Chair welcomed members to the meeting. 

Approval of Minutes of meeting 5, 23/04
Approved. Confirm that all members are content with the minutes as these will be published online (plans are being finalised with the SG web publications team)

Actions log
The Chair asked members to review actions that are assigned to them and provide updates where appropriate following the meeting.

Risk Register
Head of Health Sponsorship spoke to the risk register and advised that work has been done to improve this so that we are clear on risk ownership and which risks sit with Scottish Government. Finalisation of the risk register is dependent on receipt of the NHS GGC Safety and Public Confidence risk register, which will be used to compare and contrast the identified risks to ensure appropriate ownership, SG or NHS GGC. The risk register should be kept under active review by all members.

Extraordinary meeting with NHS GGC SPCG Co-Chairs, 26/05 – feedback and reflections
The Chair asked members for feedback on this meeting.

The Professional Nurse Adviser of Healthcare Associated Infection advised that this was a useful meeting and that it was positive to hear from the Co-Chairs.

In terms of next steps, there are a number of products which will be produced by the Sub-Groups over the summer.  We look forward to receiving these for analysis and further engagement with NHS GGC over the next two months. 

Assurance Framework
The Head of Health Sponsorship shared the framework at this stage in its early form for information to members. The plan is to bring a finalised version back to a future meeting of this group for approval from members (once NHS GGC action plans are finalised)

The Chair is keen that we have a good starting point for this document as this will be key going forward. It will be key that this document continues to evolve and be amended as required.

Members agreed that this was an important document to have in place to ensure that the correct governance channels exist.

HIS Maternity inspection at QEUH – Expectations re Group and possible mechanisms needed
The Deputy Director of Planning & Quality provided an update that the action plan has now been agreed to with an offer of improvement support coming from HIS to QEUH.

There is a follow up meeting between NHS GGC Chief Executive and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care to take place on this topic.

The action note was shared with the members of the NHS GGC SPCG and they will continue to be advised of this.

Portfolio 1: Public, Patient & Families Engagement and Communications

Engagement with families
The Head of Health Sponsorship provided an update on recent engagement and suggested next steps that Ministers may wish to take to continue engaging with the families. 

Action: Secretariat to confirm with Cab Sec that the proposed next steps for engaging with families is agreed to.

Portfolio 2: Environment, Facilities & Technical Assurance

Update on bottled water policy
The Professional Nurse Adviser of Healthcare Associated Infections outlined multiple current issues which are currently being considered alongside the UK guidance and how this can be used to update the policy for drinking water within QEUH.

The issues with use of bottled water appear to be localised within QEUH. QEUH does have point of use filters on each tap within the facility, so the issue is particularly focused on communication to patients from staff.

The Chair shared the view that it will be important to obtain guidance on this issue at UK level.  She requested that the recommendations within the SBAR be communicated to the NHS GGC co-Chairs for their consideration and inclusion within their Portfolio action plan.

Action: CNOD to prepare a communication to NHS GGC co-Chairs conveying the outcome of their request.

Cryptococcus
The Deputy Director within the Chief Nursing Office spoke to the paper on the unreported cases of cryptococcus between 2020 and 2024. 

Members agreed they are content that the issues are now resolved based on the paper.

Action: CNOD to draft a response for the Chair to send to NHS GGC advising that SG are content the issues regarding reporting of cases of cryptococcus have now been resolved.

Update on Independent Review of Prophylaxis Prescribing
The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer confirmed that progress is continuing to be made in this space and further updates will be brought back to this group when available.

Portfolio 3: Portfolio 3: Professional Relationships, Leadership & Culture

The Unit Head of Leadership and Culture advised that a submission will go to Cabinet Secretary to provide an update on national activities, such as leadership development, wellbeing and whistleblowing, which are part of a wider approach around supporting NHS culture. This submission will make reference to the issues and recommendations arising from SHI and wider HIS inspections. They advised that members of the group would be copied to this submission.

Workforce colleagues will look to meet with NHS GGC in advance of their next meeting with ministers so an update can be provided.

Action: The Head of Health Sponsorship will meet with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer in advance of the group's next meeting to determine whether any action is required by the group in relation to the specific microbiology workforce issue within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Any Other Business
The Head of Health Sponsorship provided an outline of the upcoming key dates for meetings and work of the NHS GGC SPCG with next meetings scheduled for 2nd July and 26th August [Note 26 August latterly rescheduled to 2 September].

This will likely mean that the next meeting of the COO NHS GGC Safety and Assurance Oversight Group will take place in the middle of August. Members agreed with a mid-August meeting and the Chair confirmed that this group can be convened on an exceptional basis if required.