Item 13.5 for Board Meeting 6 August Area Clinical Forum

Board Meeting 06 08 15 Area Clinical Forum Report to Grampian NHS Board Open Session Forum Meeting on 1 July 2015 Item 13.5

1. Health Care Scientists National Delivery Plan

The ACF would ask the Board to note the publication of the Scottish Healthcare Scientists Delivery Plan (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00476785.pdf). Healthcare scientists comprise more than 50 disciplines, with a workforce of 650 staff in NHSG; their work underpins 80% of all clinical diagnoses. The national delivery plan creates a framework for improvement programmes in key areas including streamlining health technology management, point of care testing in both primary and secondary care to ensure cost effective implementation and governance, reduction of unnecessary testing and the development of sustainable services. Within the multi-professional forum of the ACF, members have noted the potential for significant efficiency savings, particularly where test results can be made more readily accessible to clinicians, including across health boards.

2. Intelligent Board and Strategic Priorities

The ACF welcomes the Intelligent Board implementation plan and members welcome the opportunity it affords to triangulate the flow of intelligence and to seek views and advice in a proactive way, from a wider representation of the clinical community. Following recent discussions within the ACF, the sub committees of the advisory structure are currently reviewing priorities for e-health and organisational development. These will be reviewed and collated by the ACF and presented to the Board in due course.

3. Reputational Damage to NHSG

Members of the ACF have highlighted their concerns about the damage to the reputation of NHSG caused by recent publicity, in particular, the adverse impact this may have on staff and patients, morale, and recruitment and retention. Concerns about recruitment remain intense across many clinical areas, and particularly for general practitioners in the north of the Aberdeen. ACF members are committed to working closely with the Executive team to explore ways of rebuilding the reputation of NHSG such as promoting successes and good practice. We would hope to facilitate opportunities to publicise the many examples of excellent clinical practice and innovation throughout the organisation and for staff to reflect on their on effectiveness and patient pathways.

4. Executive Recruitment

ACF members have welcomed the opportunity to take an active role in the recent recruitment process for the new Chief Executive and Director of Nursing for NHSG, seeing this as helpful in promoting clinical engagement.

5. ACF Vice Chair

Mr Chris Llewellyn, Chair of The Healthcare Scientist Committee has been elected as Vice Chair of the ACF.

Helen Moffat Chair Area Clinical Forum July 2015 1