Care and Health Service Integrations Moving On

23rd June 2011

Planning for Integration - the development of a lead agency model in Highland for care and health services

Highland Councillors and Directors from NHS Highland have agreed to proceed with plans to integrate health, education and social care services in the Highlands.

Meeting jointly for the third time in Inverness on Thursday 23 June 2011, the Council and NHS Highland confirmed their commitment to producing a model for care and support services for adults and children, that they believe can also influence developments across Scotland.

They recognised there are challenges that need to be met but agreed the scope of services which will see NHS Highland as the lead agency for adults and the Council leading on services for children and families. This would involve an estimated 1,400 staff in adult community care services transferring from The Highland Council to NHS Highland, and an estimated 230 staff in child health services transferring to the Council. The target date for implementation is April of next year.

Garry Coutts, Chair of NHS Highland, said: "I am convinced that integration of health and social care is the only way we can provide the joined up service the public say they want. I am also increasingly convinced it will allow us to improve services and be as efficient as possible. I know that some people have outstanding concerns that we need to work through but I am sure we are on the right track."

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council, said: "We are leading the way in Scotland in joining up our services, with a view to making it easier for the public to access vital and better public services. There is nothing closer to people's hearts than their health and the care of our young and older people so it is important we provide the best possible service with the public funds available to us. We need to initiate the locality partnerships for frontline staff representatives, councillors and NHS board members as soon as possible."

Dr. Margaret Somerville, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, said: "Planning for Integration gives us a tremendous opportunity to improve our services both for children and older people, leading to better health outcomes and quality of life for them and their families. We have already been working towards providing better joint services, but we now have the opportunity to provide a truly seamless service that we know will really make a difference to people's lives."

A Staff Side Spokesperson said "The joint staff side and component Trade Unions are supportive of integration. At this point in time, we are unable to endorse the proposed model as the full and final detail is still being worked up. However we are committed to continue to engage in the process going forward."