Public asked to comment on plans to integrate health and social services across Highland

The Highland Council and NHS Highland have given formal notice of their intention to proceed with plans to integrate health and social services across the two agencies from 1 April, 2012 and they are now seeking comments from the public about these far-reaching plans.

Representations from the public are invited by 5 pm on Friday 9 December 2011 to Mrs Jan Baird, Transitions Director, Planning For Integration, 2 Ardross Terrace  Inverness IV3 5NQ.

Using powers conferred upon them by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, NHS Highland and The Highland Council plan to bring staff together into joint or “integrated” teams to work with children and families, and with people who use community care services.

It is proposed that The Highland Council will be the lead agency in developing the integrated children’s service and that NHS Highland will be the lead agency in developing the integrated adult service.

Mrs Baird said: “The integration of services aims to improve the use of resources in the Highlands to get the best outcomes for the individuals, carers and families who use health, education and social care services. Outcomes is the term for the actual impact that services have on people’s lives – the changes that are achieved, and how they contribute to an individual’s independence, safety and wellbeing, and the difference the service has helped achieve for that person.”

“Single, integrated teams will be in a position to make decisions more quickly to get the right services in place for service users who will have only one agency responsible for arranging and coordinating the services they use.

“Services will continue to adapt and change to meet changing needs. It is likely that services will continue to be delivered by the same teams and in the same locations when the integrated service starts on 1 April 2012.Some changes may follow after the integrated teams are in place to improve service delivery.”