On 23 February 2023, the Auditor General for Scotland published NHS in Scotland 2022.
The report says:
"The Scottish Government needs to be fully transparent on recovery progress and how long people will have to wait for treatment. The challenges facing the NHS in Scotland are unprecedented. The Scottish Government will have to make difficult choices and prioritise which ambitions it can deliver against. It needs to be more transparent about what progress is or is not being achieved. Information on expected waiting times for treatment must be clear and meaningful. This will allow the Scottish Government to better manage the public’s expectations about what can be delivered with the resources available. There are early signs that the Scottish Government is working to drive forward innovation and reform. It is essential that this work progresses at pace, for the sustainability of health and care services and to continue improving people’s lives."
Read the report on Audit Scotland's website.
Information about the Public Audit Committee's consideration of the report can be found below.
The Committee took evidence from:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Antony Clark, Executive Director; Leigh Johnston, Senior Manager; and Fiona Lees, Senior Auditor, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 23 March 2023
Read the Official Report, 23 March 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 23 March 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to invite the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government, to give oral evidence at a future meeting.
The Committee took evidence from:
Caroline Lamb, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General for Health and Social Care; Richard McCallum, Director of Health Finance and Governance, Scottish Government; and John Burns, Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland; followed by:
Stephen Boyle, the Auditor General for Scotland; Leigh Johnston, Senior Manager and Fiona Lees, Senior Auditor, Audit Scotland.
Read the agenda and meeting papers, 4 May 2023
Read the Official Report, 4 May 2023
Read the meeting minutes, 4 May 2023
Decision: The Committee agreed to await further written information from the Scottish Government before deciding its next steps.
Decision: At its meeting on 14 September 2023, the Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General for Health and Social Care and agreed to write to the Scottish Government to seek further information.
Decision: At its meeting on 2 November 2023 the Committee noted correspondence from the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General for Health and Social Care and agreed to close its scrutiny of NHS in Scotland 2022.