NHS Scotland Assure Conference 2023

Thank you to all attendees and speakers who made the NHS Scotland Assure conference a truly inspiring, engaging, and thought-provoking event.??

Our first virtual conference, ‘Quality in the Built Healthcare Environment’ (on Tuesday 5 December) was attended by 486 delegates interested in working collaboratively to improve sustainability, quality, and patient safety.??

The conference was opened with welcomes from:?

• ?Keith Redpath, Chair of NHS National Services Scotland?
• ?Mary Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland??
• Julie Critchley, Director of NHS Scotland Assure?
• Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Scottish Government.?

Collaborative working between NHS Scotland Assure, NHS health boards and Scottish Government was the golden thread in all the welcoming speeches given.??

Julie Critchley said, “NHS Scotland Assure, Scottish Government, and the Health Boards have delivered on some significant programmes of work over the last 12 months, all of which shows the benefits of continued quality improvement and collaborative working.”?

Mary Morgan said: “Our commitment to working hand in hand with health boards towards a risk-based approach to the healthcare built environment has been a cornerstone of our work.”?

The conference then moved on to the first plenary session of the day, followed by varied breakout sessions on topics as diverse as engineering, decontamination, and air quality.??

Throughout the plenary and breakout sessions, a broad range of subject areas were covered that all have a part to play in improving outcomes and safety in the healthcare built environment.??

Speaking about creating a culture of construction quality in healthcare sector Colin Campbell from CQICS Scotland, said: “It’s good for society, communities, places and the environment.”?

In the final plenary session, Alifia Chakera, Head of Pharmaceutical Sustainability at Scottish Government delivered an information packed session on the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment and how we can improve sustainability.?

Bringing the conference to a close, Julie Critchley, Director of NHS Scotland Assure said:??

“What has struck me massively and made me proud to be part of this system is the willingness of colleagues to continue to deliver the best built environment they possibly can for the population of Scotland.”?

We are already looking forward to next year’s NHS Scotland Assure conference. Make sure to look out for updates in the new year.