NHS Grampian Leadership Condemned After Watchdog Finds Repeated and Avoidable Harm to Patients

Senior leaders at NHS Grampian have been heavily criticised following a damning investigation which found serious failures in patient safety, clinical governance and accountability, with some patients suffering repeated and avoidable harm.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) published its findings on Thursday 12 November, identifying widespread weaknesses across the health board, including at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. The watchdog described major failings in how serious incidents were investigated, with lessons from previous mistakes not being properly implemented to prevent further harm.

Among the most concerning findings were deficiencies in the investigation of a patient who died during surgery. Inspectors found that the review had failed to meaningfully examine the clinical decisions and actions of the surgeons involved. The watchdog also revealed that some children’s operations continued at Dr Gray’s Hospital despite instructions to suspend paediatric surgery.

The report highlighted poor workforce planning, inadequate recruitment controls and weaknesses in the management of doctors. It also raised concerns about staffing levels, communication between departments and the failure of senior management to respond effectively to patient safety warnings.

Dr Simon Watson, medical director at HIS, described the investigation as the most serious review the watchdog had ever produced, warning that the findings revealed fundamental problems in leadership and oversight.

Scotland’s Health Secretary Angela Constance called the findings extremely serious and demanded urgent changes to NHS Grampian’s medical leadership. An interim medical director is expected to take up the role on 16 November, while further intervention by the Scottish Government remains under consideration.

NHS Grampian chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight, who commissioned the review, accepted the findings and apologised to patients, families and local communities. She acknowledged that longstanding governance failures and unacceptable delays in learning from serious incidents had undermined patient safety.

The health board has established a dedicated helpline for concerned patients and families on 08085 202030, available weekdays between 8am and 6pm. Its board is expected to consider immediate improvement measures at a public meeting on 3 December.

The findings raise serious questions about how patient safety concerns are escalated within NHS organisations and whether frontline staff have sufficient support when reporting problems. With NHS Grampian already facing significant operational pressures, restoring confidence among patients and healthcare professionals will depend on demonstrable improvements rather than further promises of reform.

Stay informed with the stories shaping health and social care.

Register with The Daily Round for the latest sector news, inspections & reports, wellbeing content, workforce insights, expert features and practical updates—delivered free to your inbox.