WE write in response to articles published on September 1 'Katy Clark MSP calls out health board over ‘lack of transparency’' and September 2 'Inverclyde GP out-of-hours consultation set to begin'.

NHS GGC has routine ongoing discussions with Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)

Specifically in relation to the proposed engagement on GP out-of-hours, NHS GGC proactively sought out the advice of HIS from June 2022.

It is incorrect to state that HIS intervened in our process or that this was the result of a local councillor writing to them.

While HIS made a number of recommendations to enhance our processes, they were broadly supportive of our approach from the outset and shared our view that proposed changes did not meet the threshold for major service change.

It is also inaccurate to describe the involvement of HIS as 'an unprecedented move'. HIS’s role is to support all NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland in this way.

NHS GGC has volunteered to participate in a new approach HIS are testing with NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships across Scotland.

This was NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s choice to do so and it is wrong to suggest this has been imposed on us.

With the support of HIS, we will begin a period of public engagement in the next few weeks to gather the views of patients, service users and the public on the proposed changes.

This information will help to inform NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde as it seeks to deliver a long-term, robust and sustainable out of hours model which meets the needs of patients now, and in the future.

Sandra Bustillo

Director of Communications and Public Engagement

NHS GGC