Charity responds to plans on health and social care

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today set out the Scottish Government's plan to integrate adult health and social care.
Key elements of the new system will be:
• Community Health Partnerships will be replaced by Health and Social Care Partnerships, which will be the joint responsibility of the NHS and local authority, and will work in partnership with the third and independent sectors
• Partnerships will be accountable to Ministers, leaders of local authorities and the public for delivering new nationally agreed outcomes.
• NHS Boards and local authorities will be required to produce integrated budgets for older people's services to bring an end to the 'cost-shunting' that currently exists
• The role of clinicians and social care professionals in the planning of services for older people will be strengthened
• A smaller proportion of resources - money and staff - will be directed towards institutional care and more resources will be invested in community provision.
Regarding the Government announcement on integration of Health and Social Care, Age Scotland Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer Callum Chomczuk said:
"Different masters, separate budgets, and parallel structures and cultures have created a turf war between health and social care - yet what older people desire  and require is to experience health and social care as a single service that gives them the care they want when they want it.
"Age Scotland agrees with the Government that nationally agreed outcomes and integrated budgets will be key to improving the social care for older people and welcomes its commitment to reforming the current system.
"However, to ensure that any new system truly puts the service user , the older person, first - there must be a significant shift in the in resources available to supporting older  people in the community. The key test of the Government's integration plans will be delivering a step-change in the level of community-based services that older people need.
"It is imperative that in planning for change, the Government fully consults with older people as their needs and wishes matter more than those of organisations providing services.  In the coming months it will be vital that users of services are fully empowered and able to influence the course of the debate on equal terms with the institutions and organisations delivering care.
"Only through genuine and meaningful co-operation will the Government be able to deliver successful, long-term health and social care integration."Tweet