Health chiefs have welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to move NHS Forth Valley to Stage 1 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture, following a period of escalated oversight.
Stage 1 Confirmed After National Review
Chief Executive Ross McGuffie and Board Chair Neena Mahal announced the de-escalation at the NHS Forth Valley Board meeting on Tuesday. They stated: “We are pleased to confirm that the Scottish Government has moved NHS Forth Valley to Stage 1 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework for Governance, Leadership and Culture. Stage 1, the lowest level on the Framework, is described as a steady state where NHS boards are delivering in line with agreed plans with normal reporting arrangements in place.”
The decision followed a recent national review that highlighted significant progress and sustained improvement, along with arrangements to oversee ongoing work.
Recognition of Staff and Partners
McGuffie and Mahal added: “While de-escalation to Stage 1 means that informal support from the Scottish Government is no longer required, we remain committed to working with you to maintain and build on the improvements made over the last few years. We also recognise that achieving this final level of de-escalation has only been possible due to the huge efforts of staff, primary care colleagues and partners across Forth Valley and the leadership and commitment you have shown throughout a challenging period.”
They thanked everyone for their contributions to reaching this positive position and for ongoing work to improve care and services for local communities.
Implications of Stage 1 Status
Stage 1 means the board is now delivering in line with agreed plans, with normal reporting arrangements in place. Annual delivery plans, produced by all boards, form the basis against which performance is assessed throughout the year. The de-escalation marks a significant milestone for NHS Forth Valley, which had previously been under more intensive intervention.
