This move makes a good system worse

IT was a former Scottish Labour health minister who injected much-needed accountability into NHS boards.

Andy Kerr, back in the early part of this century, responded to colleagues’ concerns about how out of touch some boards were by chairing the annual review for each organisation.

It turned out to be a good way for the minister to ask questions of senior NHS bosses and, in turn, for the public to get the answers they wanted.

The SNP continued with the reforms and a succession of ministers have faced questioning in a public forum.

Such transparency is required even more in 2018 than it was 14 years ago. Many NHS boards are in financial crisis and are clearly failing. Waiting times targets are not being met. The entire system is creaking.

Against this background, it is disappointing to report that the Scottish Government, at a time when openness should be paramount, has made a good system worse.

Under the changes, ministers will not hold a “public session” when reviewing NHS boards, meaning ministers will not face unhelpful questions from voters. The public session will be a matter for the boards, while the minister will hold each organisation to account in private.

Jeane Freeman has started brightly as Health Secretary, but this is a retrograde step. At the very least, it looks like the Government is putting a wall between voters and ministers, in an attempt to shield them from criticism.

The reforms are also reminiscent of the secrecy once pursued by the Scottish Police Authority which, interestingly, Freeman used to serve on. She should rethink these changes and, if necessary, scrap them.