Campaign for better health and social care

Older people want to experience health and social care as a single service - one that enables them to enjoy a good quality of life at home wherever possible, and that also ensures smooth transitions between home and hospital where it is not. Age Scotland is campaigning to ensure planned reforms of health and social care services achieve these goals.

Latest update (May 2012)

The Scottish Government has now opened its consultation on legislation to integrate health and social care services. This will run till 31st July.

The Charity is keen to hear your views about health and social care services; be it the cost of residential accommodation, the lack of public transport to get you to appointments or simply a poor quality service. If you are interested in sharing your views email Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer Callum Chomczuk or call him on 0845 521 2457.

Age Scotland will also hold two consultation events this summer. If you are interested in attending these please contact Callum Chomczuk.

24th July: Broomlands & Bourtreehill Age Concern, Irvine, Ayrshire, 11am -12pm
26th July, Dumfries (time and venue to be confirmed)

The Government’s plan on health and social care integration legislation will not include the creation of a new body that merges NHS and local authority social care services. Instead, the main characteristics of new system will be:

Reform of the current Community Health Partnerships, making them the joint responsibility of the NHS and councils, as well as accountable to the government and local authority leaders.
NHS Boards and local authorities to be required to produce integrated budgets for older people's services to bring an end to the 'cost-shunting' that currently exists.
A smaller proportion of resources, in terms of money and staff, to be directed towards institutional care, with more resources invested in community provision.

You can find full information about the consultation on the Scottish Government’s website.

Age Scotland supports of the overall direction of travel set out by the Scottish Government and believes that significant progress has been made. Now we will be seeking assurance that lessons from past incidences of failed partnership working are learned, so that councils and the NHS are clear about the outcomes they are working toward and have clear and realistic plans and timescales plans for achieving them.

Heal the Break postcard action

On 22nd March Age Scotland campaigners handed more than 1100 postcard messages, calling for thorough reform of health and social care services in full consultation with older people, to Public Health Minister Michael Matheson MSP. Watch the video to find out more.