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Firstly, I want to place on record my thanks to the staff of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who have continued to support the escalation work whilst delivering patient care. I also want to acknowledge and thank the patients and families for their patience and understand during what I know has been a challenging time.

In response to concerns raised in relation to patient safety and healthcare associated infections at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), the previous Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport commissioned a number of investigations into the built environment at the hospitals and a review of clinical cases in relation to children who had been treated there. On 22 November 2019 the then Cabinet Secretary escalated NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) to Stage 4 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework.

The reports from the investigations that were commissioned between 2019 and 2020 include:

• The Independent Review conducted by Dr Andrew Fraser and Dr Brian Montgomery (published June 2020);
• The Oversight Board chaired by Professor Fiona McQueen Interim Report (published December 2020);
• The Oversight Board Final Report (published March 2021);

The Overview Report of the Case Note Reviews led by Professor Mike Stephens (published March 2021).

There has been significant progress made by NHS GGC regarding the actions of these reviews.

NHS GGC has undertaken a detailed and highly complex programme to implement and evidence action against the 108 recommendations outlined in the Independent Review, Oversight Board and Case Note Review reports.

This represents a substantial NHS GGC wide programme of work, with clinical, managerial and support staff all contributing to the successful completion of the recommendations. An audit process has been established, with audit actions being monitored and tracked and a portfolio of evidence being maintained.

All recommendations have now been completed including both Wards 2A/B being successfully re-opened on 9 March 2022, which has allowed the patients and families to return to the wards and receive the quality care provided by the staff.

As NHS GGC have provided the relevant assurance and evidence to support the delivery of the 108 actions. The Scottish Government therefore accepted the closure of all 108 actions. It was on this basis and on this evidence and assurance that NHS GGC will be de-escalated to Level 2 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework.

As part of this Level 2 escalation, measures will remain in place to ensure Scottish Government officials continue to provide support to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as they continue to deliver quality healthcare with the implemented actions and improvements.