NHS Scotland Executive Group minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

NHS Boards

• Gordon James, Interim CE, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
• Peter Moore, NHS Borders
• William Edwards, NHS Fife
• Laura Skaife-Knight, NHS Grampian
• Caroline Hiscox, NHS Lothian (Meeting Chair)
• James Goodyear, Interim CE, NHS Orkney
• Brian Chittick, NHS Shetland 
• Nicky Connor, NHS Tayside

Special Health Boards

 

• Robbie Pearson, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Jim Miller, NHS 24
• Karen Reid, Public Services Delivery Scotland
• Michael Dickson, Scottish Ambulance Service
• Gary Jenkins, The State Hospitals Board for Scotland

Scottish Government

 

• Caroline Lamb, DG HSC/Chief Executive NHS Scotland
• Christine McLaughlin, NHS Scotland Chief Operating Officer/DCE
• Fiona Hogg, Chief People Officer 
• Richard Foggo, Director of Population Health
• Robert Kirkwood, Head of NHS Executive Office (IP)
• Laurie Whyt, Board Governance and Appointments Team

Other Attendees

 

• Garry Fraser, Director of Acute Services, NHS Forth Valley (on behalf of Ross McGuffie)
• Arwel Williams, Director of Acute Services, NHS Lanarkshire  (on behalf of Louise Long)
• Laura Smith, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of People and Culture, NHS Golden Jubilee (on behalf of Carolynne O’Connor)
• David Park, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Highland (on behalf of Fiona Davies)
• Scott Heald, Director (Data & Digital Innovation)/Head of Profession for Statistics, Public Health Scotland (on behalf of Paul Johnston)
• Daniel Kleinberg, Deputy Director, Population Health Resilience and Protection

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

 

• Julie White,  NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Ken Donaldson, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
• Ross McGuffie, NHS Forth Valley (Garry Fraser attending)
• Jann Gardner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 
• Fiona Davies, NHS Highland (David Park attending)
• Louise Long, NHS Lanarkshire (Arwel Williams attending)
• Carolynne O’Connor,  Interim CE, NHS Golden Jubilee (Laura Smith attending)
• Paul Johnston, Public Health Scotland (Scott Heald attending)
• Derek Grieve, Director for Health and Social Care Performance and Delivery
• Fiona Bennett, Chief Finance Officer
• Angie Wood, Director of Social Care Resilience and Improvement 
• Aisha Holloway, Chief Nursing Officer 
• Gregor Smith,  Chief Medical Officer

Items and actions

Welcome, apologies for absence and attendees

Caroline Hiscox, Chief Executive of NHS Lothian and Chair of NHS Board Chief Executives Group welcomed colleagues to the 12th meeting of the NHS Scotland executive Group.

Caroline noted that this was Caroline Lamb, DG HSC/Chief Executive of NHS Scotland’s last meeting, acknowledging her retirement and thanking her for the work she has done, guiding colleagues as a system. Caroline Lamb advised she would be leaving in August and the advert for her role would go live today or tomorrow.

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

It was that noted Caroline Lamb would need to leave the meeting early.

Minutes of previous meeting, actions, matters arising 

The minutes from the private meeting of the executive group held on 22 April were approved.

Caroline Hiscox referred to the in-confidence meeting held the previous day with Christine McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer and chief executives, noting increasing enthusiasm for strategic reform. The discussion focused on scene setting and the need for chief executives and Scottish Government (SG) colleagues to work collaboratively to ensure a shared understanding of the narrative. Christine confirmed that follow up sessions will be arranged for those unable to attend the initial discussion.

Strategic reform discussion

Caroline Hiscox invited Richard Foggo, Director of Population Health, to present on this item. He provided an overview supported by slides and noted ministers were content for the service renewal framework (SRF) and population health framework (PHF) to remain the key long-term strategic frameworks.

It was noted that the SRF delivery plan is being updated to reflect new commitments, with further advice to be provided to ministers on delivery arrangements and alignment with the five-year programme for government (PfG) due in September 2026, enabling a move away from the annual planning cycle. Ministers have requested a more rapid pace of change, with (SG) colleagues supporting further refinement.

Richard noted that while significant changes to the PHF are not anticipated. There will be continuation and extension of existing commitments (including GP walk-ins and Hospital at Home), alongside some new proposals such as health mots (whether in relation to PHF, SRF or stand along). It was also noted that (SG) firectors will engage further with solace and cosla on the SRF next week.

Richard introduced Daniel Kleinberg, Deputy Director for Population Health Resilience and Protection, who is leading the work on structural reform as part of public service reform. Daniel indicated he is keen to learn from chief executives’ experiences, and engage with those operating established structures and processes.

Christine suggested that the two half-day sessions being arranged by NHS chief executives in July/August would provide a good opportunity to update on progress.

Richard emphasised the importance of making best use of directors and executive leads, while looking to chief executives to provide a consistent and unified voice. Daniel has been tasked with preparing a paper for cabinet setting out framing options and contingencies in relation to potential developments of the 100-day plan.

In recapping the discussion, Caroline Hiscox welcomed Daniel’s offer to learn from previous experiences. It was noted that chief executives should identify their key areas of focus, including those operating single authority models and those facing different challenges. A coordinated programme of meetings would then be prepared for him.

Caroline highlighted the importance of engagement with cosla and solace to help determine what information should be communicated publicly. She also noted the risk of limited impact in the absence of clear direction, emphasising the importance of establishing a shared and coherent approach.

The executive group noted the importance of timing and sequencing and would consider what actions could be taken collectively for the health and social care (HSC) elements of reform without dilution across the 18 workstreams. Members were encouraged to focus on identifying workstreams that would have an immediate impact.

The 100 day plan would provide a foundation for delivery, with political engagement seen as critical to supporting public re‑contracting and demonstrating tangible progress. The need for cultural re‑contracting was also highlighted as essential to rebuilding public trust.

100 days post election discussion

Caroline Hiscox invited Christine Mclaughlin, Chief Operating Officer to lead the discussion on the 100 days post-election plan. Christine advised that this work would take us up to the end of August, followed by the programme for government (PfG). She confirmed that (SG) officials would coordinate reporting on progress, as part of a cross government plan. Referring to accompanying slides, she outlined the 14 priority areas of the 100 day plan that relate to health and social care. SG colleagues will work with chief executives to provide clarity on specific expectations for NHS Boards. This will be set out in a updated letter to NHS chief executives on priority areas for focus in 2026 27.

Chief executives highlighted issues relating to accommodation and visas for displaced workers. It was confirmed that the displaced workers scheme will be relaunched. The need to define a clear and explicit ask in relation to “Flow” was also noted. It was agreed that representatives from the east and west would meet in the coming weeks to discuss this further, and Christine would join this discussion.

In summary, it was acknowledged that chief executives have undertaken significant work to date since publication of the operational improvement plan and that progress is moving in a positive direction.

Any other business

A request was made for iMatter to be reviewed. Karen Reid, Chief Executive, Public Services Delivery Scotland and James Goodyear, Interim Chief Executive, NHS Orkney agreed to discuss this further offline.

Date of next meeting

The next NHS Scotland executive group meeting will take place on 19 August 2026.