NHS Scotland Executive Group minutes: August 2026

Attendees and apologies

NHS Boards

• Peter Moor, NHS Borders
• Julie White, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Ross McGuffie, NHS Forth Valley
• Jann Gardner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Fiona Davies, NHS Highland
• Louise Long, NHS Lanarkshire
• Caroline Hiscox, NHS Lothian
• Brian Chittick, NHS Shetland
• Nicky Connor, NHS Tayside
• Gordon Jamieson, NHS Western Isles

Special Health Boards

• Robbie Pearson, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Jim Miller, NHS 24
• Carolynne O’Connor, Interim CE, NHS Golden Jubilee
• Paul Johnston, Public Health Scotland
• Karen Reid, Public Services Delivery Scotland
• Michael Dickson, Scottish Ambulance Service

Scottish Government

• Christine McLaughlin, Interim DG HSC/Chief Executive NHS Scotland
• Fiona Hogg, Chief People Officer
• Angie Wood, Co- Director Mental Health and Social Care
• Aisha Holloway, Chief Nursing Officer

Other Attendees

• Jenny Wilson, Executive Nurse Director, NHS Ayrshire and Arran (for Gordon James)
• Chris McKenna, Medical Director, NHS Fife (for William Edwards)
• Gail Woodcock, Director of Strategy, Transformation & Performance (for Laura Skaife Knight)
• Dave Harris, Director of People and Culture, NHS Orkney (incoming CE and for James Goodyear)
• Graham Elli, DCMO (for CMO)
• Claire Renton, Deputy Director, Performance and Delivery (for Agenda Item 3 and 4)
• Jessica Milne, Performance and Delivery, Unscheduled Care (for Agenda Item 3 and 4)
• Beth McMaster, PS/DG HSC/CE NHS Scotland

Secretariat

• Laurie Whyte, Board Governance and Appointments Team
• Sarah Hobkirk, Board Governance and Appointments Team
• Carol Hunter, Board Governance and Appointments Team
• Tim Andrew, Interim Programme Director Executive Support

Apologies

• Gordon James, Interim CE, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• William Edwards, NHS Fife 
• Laura Skaife-Knight, NHS Grampian 
• James Goodyear, Interim CE, NHS Orkney
• Gary Jenkins, The State Hospitals Board for Scotland
• Richard Foggo, Director of Population Health
  
• Derek Grieve, Director for Health and Social Care Performance and Delivery
• Fiona Bennett, Chief Finance Officer
• Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer
• Robert Kirkwood, Head of NHS Executive Office

Items and actions

Welcome, apologies for absence and attendees

Christine McLaughlin, interim DG HSC/Chief Executive of NHS Scotland welcomed colleagues to the 13th meeting of the NHS Scotland executive group.

Christine noted thanks to James Goodyear, in his absence, for his time as interim Chief Executive NHS Orkney over the last year. She welcomed Dave Harris, incoming Chief Executive NHS Orkney to his first meeting attending on behalf of James Goodyear.

Apologies were noted. A full list of attendees and apologies for absence is provided in annex a.

Minutes of previous meeting, actions, matters arising

The minutes from the meeting of the executive group held on 10 June 2026 were approved.

Christine opened the meeting and noted that it provided an opportunity to discuss the national flow plan (NFP) due to be published on 31 August. The discussion aimed to ensure that all attendees understood the document's content and how it would be implemented in practice. Christine also advised that updates would be provided on the meeting with the First Minister held the previous day on orthopaedics as well as an update on business systems.

National flow plan

Christine invited Claire Renton, Deputy Director, Performance and Delivery, to present this item. Claire provided an overview supported by a slide presentation, which would be shared with attendees following the meeting, and a short paper had been circulated in advance setting out the key issues.  The overview covered:

• health and care improving flow plan 2026–2031
  • prevention
  • access
  • person-led
  • quality
• what would be different for people
• care continuum: improving flow
• transformation priorities 2026-27
• major changes over the next 3 years
• immediate priorities for 2026-27: delivering early improvement
• delivery plan 2026-29
• communications and engagement
• feedback – key themes from IF workshop
• timeline
• what success looks like by 2029

A discussion followed, where colleagues raised the following points:

• the group welcomed the flow plan, recognising the significant collaboration and engagement that underpinned its development and its potential to improve outcomes and experiences of care across Scotland. Members emphasised the need to maintain momentum from vision to delivery through effective local implementation, supported by a community first approach, strong governance, partnership working and clear accountability
• building public confidence was seen as critical, with members highlighting the importance of engaging staff, partners, service users and communities, demonstrating measurable improvements, sharing learning and maintaining a clear link between local delivery and the national vision
• workforce capability, digital infrastructure, interoperable systems and effective data sharing were identified as key enablers of transformation, alongside investment in long-term sustainability and improving public health literacy to support people to access services appropriately and manage their health and care needs

Angie Wood, Co- Director Mental Health and Social Care, noted her involvement in the community first programme, which continues to evolve and is reflected throughout the flow document. While recognising that challenges remain and further learning is needed, she offered to engage with Chief Executives to support understanding of the alignment between community first and the flow plan. Christine agreed that further discussion would be helpful to explore the programme in more detail and consider its practical implementation.

Christine summarised that this work builds on last year's planning direction and reflects new ways of working across organisations. She highlighted the group's role in maintaining alignment, engagement and shared understanding as the programme develops. Discussions emphasised the need for clear Scottish Government leadership alongside strong local ownership and collaboration. She noted that sub-national planning groups are developing the structures required to support delivery, with further work planned to strengthen joint working following publication. The importance of building public confidence in community-based services, demonstrating tangible improvements and sharing learning from implementation was also highlighted as key to sustaining momentum and successful delivery.

Action: community first to be brought as an agenda item for the next executive group meeting

Orthopaedics (verbal update)

Christine provided feedback from a meeting with the First Minister and Ministers on the elective orthopaedics programme. Ministers remained supportive of the overall direction and recognised progress in developing plans to address demand and reduce waiting times. Discussions highlighted the need to clearly demonstrate how productivity, capacity and service redesign would improve outcomes and maximise existing resources. Christine noted that further work is required to strengthen the case for change, including future demand, investment needs and service implications. She also emphasised the importance of engaging staff, trade unions, boards, partners and the public to support implementation. While recognising the challenges involved, she was encouraged by the discussion and the continued commitment to refining the proposals. She noted the feedback from Ministers on the need for greater pace of implementation.

A discussion by the group followed:

• members emphasised the importance of maintaining a strategic, nationally coordinated approach that balances immediate performance pressures, including reducing waiting times, with longer-term service transformation and sustainability. There was a strong focus on improving patient outcomes, supported by increased productivity, greater capacity and the adoption of best practice across Scotland
• clinical leadership, engagement and a strong evidence base were recognised as critical to driving improvement, building confidence and supporting the successful implementation of service redesign and change

Christine thanked colleagues for their work on the orthopaedics programme and welcomed the progress made. She noted that further discussions with Ministers would be needed on future service models, funding and capital investment. While additional assurance is required, there remains a strong ambition to agree a sustainable national approach to orthopaedic services, with understanding the implications of future service models across Scotland identified as a key next step.

Business systems (verbal update)

Karen Reid, Public Services Delivery Scotland, provided an update on the business systems programme, including changes to leadership and oversight arrangements. Governance is being strengthened through revised structures, terms of reference and representation, alongside increased programme management capacity, including recruitment to a senior leadership role. Regular updates will continue through established governance routes.

Christine thanked Peter Moore, NHS Borders, for his leadership and contribution in progressing the programme and supporting a smooth transition to the next phase.

Any other business

Christine provided an update on the forthcoming programme for government (PfG), expected to be published on 1 September. Health and care reform is expected to feature prominently, although details remain subject to cabinet discussions. The programme will set out the government's priorities for the remainder of the parliamentary term. A follow-up discussion with Chairs and Chief Executives will be arranged after publication to consider the implications for the NHS.

Date of next meeting

The next NHS Scotland executive group meeting will take place on 21 October 2026.