NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: Chief Operating Officer Safety and Assurance Oversight Group - terms of reference

Context

The Scottish Hospital Inquiry (SHI) commenced in 2020 into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus (QEUH), Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People  and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Edinburgh. The final hearings of the SHI were held in January 2026.

The Chair of the SHI will now review all evidence submitted and is expected to publish the final report by the end of 2026.

As a result of the issues raised during the public inquiry there is a need to establish a programme of work to provide assurance about the safety of the QEUH and Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) hospital environment and increase public confidence in the QEUH and RHC.

It is important to note that in tandem with the SHI since September 2021 there is an ongoing Crown Investigation into deaths at QEUH. There are also a number of ongoing civil and legal claims.

Purpose

The purpose of this group is to:

• review and endorse the proposed Safety and Public Confidence Programme governance, structure and membership
• provide scrutiny and support to the approach taken to deliver the Safety and Public Confidence programme workplan developed by the Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group (SPCG)
• consider, support and endorse the recommendations coming from the work of the SPCG
• ensure that the agreed SPCG recommendations are agreed and implemented within the planned and agreed timescale
• provide oversight and support in relation to NHSGGC’s  programme of work to ensure the restoration of public and political confidence in the safety of the hospital environment delivered within the QEUH and RHC. This primarily relates to water and ventilation but the Group will have an interest in being made aware of any other issues relating to the built environment identified
• manage ongoing, coordinated oversight across Directorate General of Health and Social Care (DGHSC) and provide additional assurance on any issues related to service safety at the QEUH

This Group exists to manage the Scottish Government’s (SG) assurance to matters relating to service safety at the QEUH, and to inform Ministers. It is not intended to consider matters requiring formal escalation, which are the domain of the National Planning and Performance Oversight Group (NPPOG) – these considerations would be out of scope given there is no formal escalation in this instance. However, if any matters are discussed by the Group which may have impact on Board escalation, these will be reported to NPPOG.

Similarly, whilst this group will take an observational interest in relevant inquiries and legal claims, these are entirely independent of this group. The remit of the group does not cut across these matters and discussions will intentionally avoid any real or perceived encroachment or interference.

The Group will oversee the scoping and sourcing of any additional tailored support to facilitate the work of the SPCG.

The Group will also provide continued oversight, via Chief Nursing Officer colleagues, of work being carried out in parallel on infection prevention and control, in order to ensure a co-ordinated approach and response.

In line with standard Governance structures and statutory obligations, NHSGGC will take decisions in relation to the delivery of services within the Board. The expectation of this Group is that it is for the Chief Executive and Board to determine occasions where decisions should be shared with SG for awareness or advice or support.

Membership

The Group will be chaired by the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland with support from colleagues across DGHSC. You can find a full membership list on the group page.

The Group will report to DGHSC and Health and Social Care Management Board (HSCMB) through the Chair. 

The Chair of the Group will be supported by a secretariat who will co-ordinate the involvement of other SG  officials, as required.

The Group will also work very closely with the Co-Chairs of the SPCG, Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie and Professor Jann Gardner NHSGGC Chief Executive to oversee and understand NHS GGC’s specific programme of work through proportionate oversight and support and through evidence of sustainable improvements realised.

Meetings

The frequency of meetings will be monthly and meetings will be informed by a formal monthly assurance report provided by the co-chairs of the SPCG to this group.

This group has been convened for a finite period and its continuation will be reviewed periodically. Any decision to amend the frequency of meetings, or to pause or end the group will be based on agreement by the Chair that NHSGCC and the SPCG has delivered its action plans and is moving to a business as usual state. This will also include an assessment of GGCs readiness in anticipation of the publication of the final report by the SHI.

There will also be on-going dialogue between the Chair of the Group and Co-Chairs of SPCG and a weekly informal update will be provided.

In addition to briefing the HSCMB, the Chair of the Group will meet with the Director General as required to review progress and emerging findings. Ministers will be kept up-to-date as appropriate.

Outputs

The Group will be in existence until the SHI reports at end of 2026 and until the work of the Safety and Public Confidence Programme is completed. A clear programme of work and timelines will be defined by the SPCG and shared with the Group.

The following outputs are envisaged: 

• approval of the Hospital Environment Assurance Framework that will be developed by the SPCG and subsequently published on a regular basis
• oversight and support to the delivery of the recommendations from the SPCG, recommendations will cover the three portfolio areas:
• public confidence and engagement
• environment and facilities assurance
• professional relations, leadership and culture
• provide Ministerial assurance on the safety of the hospital environment and public confidence in QEUH and RHC 
• wider learning for NHS Scotland resulting from the GGC programme of work will be discussed, agreed and disseminated to the appropriate organisation and stakeholder. e.g health building notes, escalation processes for infection prevention and control as it relates to the work of this group

Outputs/actions can be added/amended by agreement of the Group. A progress grid will be maintained by secretariat for review at each meeting.  

Success criteria will be developed through internal discussion and in alignment with the portfolio action plans developed by the GGC SPCG. 

The implementation and delivery of plans are the responsibility of NHSGGC Board. The Group will offer oversight and support; ensuring the plans form a robust basis to address the matters at hand. The aim will be for NHS GGC to provide assurance to SG that they have made sufficient progress to restore public and political confidence in the safety of the hospital environment within the QEUH and RHC.