Efforts to find a Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland have proven futile for the second time. This came after the Scottish parliament approved a law creating the country’s first-ever independent public advocate for NHS patients in September 2020. However, the first round of interviews did not yield a suitable candidate last April, while the preferred prospect turned down the job offer last month. Supporters have described this development as “incredibly frustrating.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish parliament handling the recruitment process announced that the job would be re-advertised in 2025. An assessment of the Commissioner’s terms and conditions is also underway. Although the review will not affect the £89,685-a-year salary, more than 20 people have so far vied for the role, which is for a fixed term of up to eight years.
Dr Henrietta Hughes became England’s Patient Safety Commissioner in 2022. The role was created in response to the scandals surrounding the epilepsy drug sodium valproate, vaginal mesh implants, and the pregnancy test Primodos. The post was established after Baroness Julia Cumberlege concluded that complaints were frequently dismissed as “women’s problems.”
Charlie Bethune, who has been campaigning for the implementation of the Cumberlege report’s recommendations in Scotland since the Scottish government endorsed them entirely in 2020, has expressed disappointment at the decision. Bethune’s daughter’s health has been affected by her exposure to sodium valproate. He said that he was frustrated that there had been no commissioners hired yet, given that many safety issues have yet to be resolved, and patient safety and care continue to receive limited attention from the government. A strong independent voice, he argues, is required
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