The Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group (SPCG) exists to strengthen assurance, rebuild trust and ensure that safety concerns are addressed openly, independently and in partnership with patients, families, staff and stakeholders across NHSGGC. This webpage will host all key information and updates in relation to the progress of the group.
What Is the Oversight Group?
The Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group (SPCG) is here to strengthen assurance and rebuild public confidence in the safety of care and the hospital environment at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children.
The group is co-chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie, independent chair and Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Its membership includes a number of independent experts alongside patient and family representatives, senior clinicians, infection control and estates specialists, and NHSGGC executive and non‑executive leaders.
It reports to the NHSGGC Board and onwards to the Scottish Government and focuses broadly on four key priorities:
- Public and family engagement and communication
- The hospital-built environment, infection prevention and control
- Professional relationships, staff engagement, leadership and culture
- Immediate issues and final recommendations arising from the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry
Structure, Reporting and Strategic Intent
Overview
The new Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Programme will seek to improve public confidence in the safety of the QEUH and RHC hospitals with a focus on ventilation, water, infection control, communication to families, public and staff. In particular, it will look at issues in the Adult BMT Ward 4B, the Paediatric Schiehallion Unit and other critical air system areas.
Structure
The group will be jointly chaired by Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie and the NHSGGC Chief Executive, Professor Jann Gardner. It will formally report to the Board of NHSGGC and onward to the Scottish Government. The group will complement (but not duplicate) the role of NHSGGC and other scrutiny bodies.
Membership
Membership will be made up of a range of stakeholders including independent experts, family representatives, NHSGGC executive and non-executive directors, Employee Director, HIS, CMO, CNO, NHS Assure as well as experts from within NHSGGC. Further representation will be sought for the sub groups including wider staff.
Purpose
The purpose of the group is to provide additional assurance by examining priority issues including the 4 areas noted below:
Public and families engagement and communications
SHI immediate issues and final recommendations
Issues of the built environment, infection control clinical specialties and microbiology
Professional relationships, staff engagement, leadership and culture.
Our Commitments
1. Water
External Independent review and verification
Set out ongoing verification monitoring and reporting
Commission a national Bottled Water policy.
2. Verification
External Independent verification of Paediatric Schiehallion Unit
External independent verification of other critical air systems
External review and risk assessment of Ward 4B
Establish a project group to scope a potential new unit.
3. Review and Engagement
Engage families in both individual and collective interviews to fully understand issues and objectives for the SPCG
Engage Microbiology and ICD clinicians in individual and collective interviews to understand issues and the proposed way forward to enable safe and effective professional practise.
4. Expert Panel to be Established
This will be an expert reference group including external clinicians will be asked to consider key issues and improvements including:
Overseeing case reviews
Involvement in Risk Assessment of Ward 4B
Review of water
Review of ventilation
Review of systems and process for IMT, HIIAT etc escalation processes
Involvement in any new projects.
5. Communications and Media
Set out communication and media plans including:
A comprehensive communications strategy to support and build public trust in our hospitals will be developed and implemented
A closed Facebook page will be established
Creation and maintenance of a website
Regular updates to the website following meetings
A generic email address will be made available to all for non clinical issues.
6. Joint Statement
A joint statement from Prof Sir Lewis Ritchie and Prof Jann Gardner will be provided following each meeting
SPCG Updates and Statements
SPCG – Key Messages – 8 April 2026
The second meeting of the Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group took place this week. It was …
Public Confidence Group signals “new era in patient safety and transparency”
The newly established Safety and Public Confidence Oversight Group met today (Wed 11 March 2026) for…
