Welcome rethink on relocation

Published on Tuesday 28 August 2007 00:51

BOTH the taxpaying public and senior healthcare staff will have cause to welcome the decision by the Scottish Executive not to proceed with relocation of specialist health service functions out of the capital.

As a general principle, relocation of administrative functions to other parts of Scotland has much to commend it. But in applying this principle, care must always be taken to ensure that the practical application does not result in needless disruption and excessive cost.

That was certainly the case with the 30 million transfer of Scottish Natural Heritage to Inverness, and would also have been the case here. The previous administration had recommended removal of three organisations - NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, NHS Scotland and NHS Education to Glasgow - involving some 300 staff and a cost of 22 million. The proposal, made in the name of addressing "health inequalities" smacked of political engineering.

Dropping the proposal makes sense, both for operational reasons and because of the saving involved, particularly in a tight financial settlement period. Many will agree with the observation of the public-health minister, Shona Robinson, yesterday that the money would be better spent on front-line healthcare. It is encouraging that such decisions are now being taken with a wider regard to consequence.