Dear Colleagues

The Scottish Executive has just published its response to the consultation on integrating Scotland's three clinical effectiveness bodies (the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, Health Technology Board for Scotland, and Scottish Health Advisory Service)  into one body the Quality and Standards Board for Scotland.
I attach an excerpt from press release below - the full release including response to all points raised from the 145 responses can be found at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/2002/08/SEhd158.aspx
All the best
David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care
News Release: SEhd158/2002
The Executive published its response today to the consultation on integrating Scotland's three clinical effectiveness bodies, agreeing to establish one body - the Quality and Standards Board for Health in Scotland. Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm stressed that the new body will be independent and will respond to public concerns. The new body will integrate the three existing organisations: the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, Health Technology Board for Scotland, and Scottish Health Advisory Service. Mr Chisholm said:
"The new body will focus on improving the quality of patient care and the health of patients. It will have a particular emphasis on the quality of care and the patient journey for vulnerable groups. "I recognise that there have been concerns raised through the consultation process and these will be passed to the new Board and I expect their strategic plan to address these issues.
"We are committed to moving ahead and establishing the Quality Standards Board for Health in Scotland quickly. I expect to announce the Chairman of the new Board in September and appointments to the board will follow shortly afterwards. "While our existing arrangements have worked well and Scotland has a deserved international reputation for its leading-edge work on clinical quality, the expectations of patients and the public are changing. We need to continue to develop a patient-focussed service and a culture of openness and honesty where patients and staff work together in partnership. 
"We are doing away with unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication to ensure that there are no distractions from the task of improving the quality of health care to patients in Scotland.
"I am determined that this new body will be fully independent, and able to respond to the concerns of patients and the public. I will expect it to lead the drive to improve services, identify problems where they occur and find solutions."
The Executive has also accepted the concerns that a Departmental Quality Strategy Group could be taken to have an overall supervisory role. This was not what the Executive intended. The title of this new Group will be changed to convey its advisory and consultative role within the Department. It will not oversee the Board.
The Quality Standards Board for Health in Scotland will be established as a special health board.
A total of 145 responses were received from NHS, professional and patient organisations during the consultation process.