Publication of the HIS Diagnostic Review Report

Following the publication of The Healthcare Improvement Scotland Diagnostic Review today, NHS Grampian Chief Executive Laura Skaife-Knight, who commissioned the review, said:

 “The Healthcare Improvement Scotland Diagnostic Review, which has been published today, has identified serious failings within NHS Grampian. As a Board we own and accept the findings, we apologise to our patients, families and communities for letting them down and we commit to putting things right. 

“It must firstly be recognised that every day, thousands of patients receive excellent care from our dedicated staff and teams, as the three Safe Delivery of Care Healthcare Improvement Scotland reports - also published today - remind us.

“That said, the report makes for very tough reading. It describes features of our leadership, governance and culture which are unacceptable and which cannot continue as I take this organisation forward. 

“We have 18,000 committed and dedicated staff who deserve to work in an environment where they feel supported and enabled by sound leadership, good governance and learning systems to deliver high-quality care.

“We have made some immediate changes to medical leadership with an interim Medical Director starting on 16 November.

“I commissioned this diagnostic by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to get an independent and external assessment of Clinical Governance at NHS Grampian, including at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s Hospital. 

“The review has identified significant shortcomings, including longstanding weaknesses in our Board governance and oversight, Clinical Governance and the way services work together in an integrated and supportive fashion across NHS Grampian. 

“Most concerning are the unacceptable delays in investigating and implementing learning from incidents involving patient care which can prevent us from making the changes necessary to keep patients safe. 

“I know these findings will cause concern to our local community, particularly for patients and families who may have questions about their own care. This is why we've established a dedicated telephone line 08085 202030, available on weekdays 8am-6pm from today, for anyone who has specific concerns and wants to speak to us.

“Our focus is now about responding at pace to the feedback and making the improvements needed that are now long overdue. 

“We will approach our response to this report with openness and transparency by setting out clearly what needs to change, who is accountable for delivering that change and how progress will be measured so it is clear to everyone whether the changes we are making are delivering for patients and our communities. 

“Our job now is to work together across our organisation and use this report as a springboard for change and improvement, which is no less than our patients and staff deserve. We will consider the immediate actions we need to take at our 3 December 2026 public Board meeting.” 

The reports and NHS Grampian’s response are available at https://www.nhsgrampian.org/about-us/HIS-Diagnostic-Review and the HIS Reports are available at: https://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.scot/publications/nhs-grampian-responsive-diagnostic-review-november-2026/