Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has spent almost £1 million on suspending staff with pay since 2022, and what action it is taking to lower these costs.
The Scottish Government expects all Health Boards to follow national guidance and employment law when considering the suspension of employees. The NHS Scotland Guide to Suspension advocates a risk-based approach to assess whether the employee poses a clinical or financial risk, or is a risk to themselves or others. It also encourages the use of early-resolution approaches prior to suspension, where safe and appropriate, as a means of minimising both disruption and associated costs.