A TOP NHS hospital inspector is to become a member of Scotland's largest health board - sparking questions about a conflict of interest.
Susan Brimelow, chief inspector of the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate which monitors hospital cleanliness, has been given a position on the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board starting on April 1 next year.
Ms Brimelow, who led the HEI team from its inception, will leave her current job just before joining the NHS GGC body.
The news comes little more than a week after the hygiene team published a critical report on Glasgow Royal Infirmary, which is run by NHS GGC, after finding patient equipment spattered with blood during a surprise visit. Some believe Ms Brimelow's expertise could help the region make better progress cleaning its wards.
However, the independence of Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) - the body which oversees HEI - was called into doubt last year when it emerged a report on Ninewells Hospital in Dundee was revised after a meeting with Gerry Marr, then both chief executive of NHS Tayside and a member of the HIS board.
NHS HIS insist that Ms Brimelow has had no involvement with NHS GGC inspections since her move to the board was confirmed, but concern has been expressed about her having interest in both camps.
One former NHS inspector, who did not wish to be named, said: "The HEI was established to provide independent public assurance that NHS hospital services in Scotland are safe, clean and that the quality of care received by patients meets national standards. Inspectors have worked hard to build trust and credibility with staff and patients at all levels across all NHS boards and services in Scotland.
"Inspectors must be independent in how they reach their decisions based upon the evidence presented to them during inspections. I am concerned that the chief inspector has been appointed to a senior position of an NHS board for which she has responsibility for inspecting and publicly reporting on. There is a real conflict of interest here and I am not convinced that this conflict can be suitably and effectively managed."
Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, expressed concern last year that potential overcrowding at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley had been left out of a HIS report.
Neil Findlay, Labour health spokesman, said the Scottish Government and health board had "serious questions to answer."
Angiolina Foster, chief executive of HIS said: "Susan Brimelow, chief inspector of HEI, will be stepping down from her role as HEI chief inspector at the end of March 2015, after successfully applying in open competition for a position of non-executive member on the board of NHS GGC. Susan will commence her new post on 1 April 2015.
"HEI is part of HIS and we provide independent inspections to NHSScotland which drive improvements for patients. We would like to provide reassurance to the public that, with Susan's impending move to NHS GGC, the independence of those inspections is being protected. Since being informed of her successful application, Susan has had no involvement in any HEI inspections relating to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and no involvement in the planning of inspections to NHS GGC up to March 2015 and beyond. In addition, planned inspection dates beyond March will be subject to review."
She said it was very positive that Ms Brimelow's skill would continue to be of great benefit to patients and the public."
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