Minute of the previous Clinical and Care Governance Group, held on 5 March 2026
Argyll and Bute Council · 12 May 2026
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Clinical and Care Governance Committee — 12 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Argyll & Bute Clinical & Care Governance Group Date: 5 March 2026 Time: 10.30am Location: MS Teams Chair: Dr Rebecca Helliwell Attendees: Rebecca Helliwell, L Smith, C West, L Callaghan, F Thomson, D Watt, K Gillies, N Gillespie, C Tanner, A Roexe, C Robertson 1. Welcome, Introductions & Apologies • Meeting opened with introductions from members • Apologies: Alison McGrory. 2. Previous Minutes & Action Log • Previous minutes approved as an accurate record. • Action log will remain active; items appearing on today’s agenda will be closed. 3. Chronic Pain Service • Presenter absent; unable to progress full discussion. • Paper taken for noting; will return next meeting. • Planning team highlighted uncertainty about what elements fall under Argyll & Bute vs North Highland. • ACTION CG Team: Paper to be added to Agenda.
Page 2
4. Complex Care (Nicola Gillespie) 4.1 Neurodiversity Pathway (ASD & ADHD) • Significant and escalating pressures. • ASD post (0.7 WTE) vacant for months; several hundred people waiting. • ADHD referrals rising rapidly; consultants preparing to withdraw due to lack of safe follow-up and inability to continue prescribing/monitoring. • Risk of closing referral lists imminently. • ~120 patients currently on ADHD medication in Oban without sustainable follow-up. • NG indicated Short Life Working Group is being convened. FT has asked to be included in this group. • LS also asked about comes with people on the w/l and NG indicated this being considered although may need to await decisions from SLWG • NG also indicated paper has been to Committee already and being presented to Group to keep updated of risks, . 4.2 Dementia Pathway & LD/IPCU Issues • NG indicated paper is for noting and has been to Committee • Continued difficulty securing appropriate beds, leading to distress for staff, families, and patients. • Cross-regional work underway with Forth Valley, Fife and others on LD pathways. • Confirmed that the Risk is recorded on the risk register. • CW asked if there are comms updates provided to clinicians regarding the ongoing issues - NG confirmed regular comms 4.3 Mental Health Unscheduled Care Data • NG indicated paper for noting
Page 3
• Team working with HIS to refine new dashboard requirements. • Current data collection still spreadsheet-based. 4.4 Governance Alignments • Mental Health SMT cycles being realigned to ensure proper flow into CCG processes. 1 5. Maternity Services – Mid Argyll (Lynsey Callaghan) • LS indicated that paper has been to SLT therefore has come to group for noting of risk. • CW enquired re timescales for reduced service provision. LC confirmed that a temporary reduced service remains in place. • Improvements in recruitment, but on-call remains fragile. • Some local births supported case-by-case with help from wider teams. • Recent staff injury has added pressure. • Further updated paper required. 6. Hospitals & Community Care (Caroline Robertson) 6.1 Staffing Pressures • Widespread staffing shortages across multiple professions. This includes issues with pharmacy recruitment. • Negative wellbeing impact on individuals noted and being supported. CH also indicated these issues could impact statutory duties. • Situation is being closely monitored
Page 4
• DW indicated SafeCare rollout creating confusion; session planned to clarify. 6.2 Chemo Therapy • There was also discussion re Chemotherapy Service Risks as flagged by FT following discussion around pharmacy recruitment issues. • Glasgow cannot support chemo pharmacy verification due to capacity. • This creates a significant service risk for Oban. • Consultants required to undertake more patient review; non-medical prescriber roles require review. • Increasing demand through day-bed unit; nursing workload rising. • AR indicated that direction of travel is for local solutions this also in line with SACT. • Plan required for how to address and take forward. Agreed that there needs to be coordination with N Highland Group. • CR noted that she had not been included in the discussions around these issues and will pick up locally • ACTION: FT to ask the current N Highland Group re involving A&B this to include AB Planning Team. 7. Primary Care (Paper from E Gallagher) • Paper taken for noting. • Risks and updates will feed into next governance report. 8. Planning, Performance & Technology (Anke Roexe) Governance Gaps Affecting Specialist Pathways • Paper highlighted Major issues with obtaining clinical oversight or cooperation for: o Oral surgery / maxillofacial o Ophthalmology • Also indicated that there are other services that are affected by these issues including: o Sexual health o Dialysis
Page 5
o Paediatrics • The issues raised by programming and technology were in regards to the lack of pathways, and how the HIS guidance and reviews on the relevant care practices, is impacted as there is a lack of relevant stakeholder oversight • Some commissioned services (e.g., GGC clinics) operate with no local governance visibility. • AR indicated Group being asked to advise on how to approach getting expert advice and support regarding these services. No formalised approach for escalation of issues. • RH indicated need to formulate list of services affected and escalate to N Highland clinical Governance Group. • Group agreed this is a system-level governance problem requiring escalation. • CW also indicated that EB/ BP and LB should have sight of the paper to ensure awareness • KG indicated we recognise A& B have to take responsibility but we need to know where to go for support and advice when need and this should be a formalised process. • ACTION AR: To provide paper outlining issues and services involved paper to be prepared for presentation at N Highland CG Group 11. Any Other Business 1 Community Paediatrics • RH fagged current risks relating with Community paediatrics nearing service failure due to cumulative vacancies. • Children with complex needs not reviewed appropriately. • There may be a need to approach GGC for assistance • KG indicated paper still required form BW in order to articulate need fully with West Group • BW still finalising paper. • ACTION GC Team. Contact BW re adding paper to Group Agenda for next meeting 2. SAER Outcomes • RH noted these need to be included in Group Agenda for each meeting. • ACTION CG Team to include SAER/Case Review outcomes in future agendas. Actions
Page 6
Actions from Meeting of 5 March 2026 3. Chronic Pain Service • ACTION CG Team: Paper to be added to Agenda. 6. Hospitals & Community Care 6.2 Chemotherapy • ACTION: FT to ask the current N Highland Group re involving A&B this to include AB Planning Team. 8. Planning, Performance & Technology (Anke Roexe) Governance Gaps Affecting Specialist Pathways • ACTION AR: To provide paper outlining issues and services involved paper to be prepared for presentation at N Highland CG Group 11. Any Other Business a. Comm Paediatrcs b. SAER outcomes • ACTION GC Team. Contact BW re adding paper to Group Agenda for next meeting • ACTION CG Team to include SAER/Case Review outcomes in future agendas. Outstanding Actions (22/1/26) Item Actions 3.Children and Family Service • Produce joint SLT paper (Children Services + CTAC) outlining: o Service risks o Optional appraisal o System-wide clinical impact • Reduce the risk formally on the governance risk register. • Continue reporting the risk at each meeting until resolved.
Page 7
4.Primary Care • P Morrison and F Thomson to discuss dispensing practice issues offline and decide whether it should be recorded as a formal clinical risk. • Develop a clearer process for capturing local service gaps in clinical governance reporting. • P Morrison to finalise update paper for GP practices on Open Labs. 6.Hospital and Community Care • L Smith to interrogate DATIX for complaints and incidents trends relating to delayed discharge harm. • Small working group (L Smith, L Currie, C Robertson, others) to: o Develop harm-reduction measures o Review functional data o Consider day-of-care audits • Clarify and implement escalation process for unsafe bed occupancy. • Explore resource options (including Living Well) for active reablement in hospital. 8.AOB • Provide a Hospital at Home update paper for the next meeting covering: o Clinical model o Governance structure o Integration with locality teams o Expansion proposals • Confirm governance and reporting route (likely through this group)