Perth & Kinross ‘slow to progress’ integration of health and social care – report
A new inspection of health and social care in Perth & Kinross published today has reported integration has been ‘slow to progress’ and ‘structures and processes had not been developed or redesigned to ensure effectiveness.’
Inspectors from the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland said that while the Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership had a clear vision and aims, there were weaknesses in their use of performance information and leadership of strategic planning and commissioning.
While acknowledging that the Partnership had successfully implemented its plans in some key areas, there was a lack of leadership and strategic oversight which resulted in poor planning, direction and monitoring of services.
The inspectors identified a lack of performance reporting structures which limited the Partnership’s ability to measure progress against wider strategic priorities or the aims of the strategic commissioning plan.
However, there was ‘significant progress’ to improve performance in unscheduled care and reducing delayed discharges from hospital.
Inspectors also found that positive progress had been made in the development of localities where staff worked closely together to provide services collaboratively and financial planning had also improved.
Speaking of the report, Robbie Pearson (pictured), Chief Executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “Inspectors found that the Partnership had not made progress against all of its strategic priorities between 2016 and 2019. Workforce planning and complex care were not given sufficient attention and the Partnership had not been realistic about its capacity to implement its plans.
“They noted the Partnership had taken steps to review and improve its strategic planning and commissioning processes. Key members of the executive and senior management teams had changed. There was an increased commitment to supporting integrated working and the integration agenda from Perth and Kinross Council and NHS Tayside as a result.”
Peter Macleod, Chief Executive, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “This Partnership has been slow to progress integration of health and social care. Structures and processes had not been developed or redesigned to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. A new management team has expressed its commitment to integration. It will be important for partners to build on this commitment to progress this very challenging agenda.”
The Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland say they have made recommendations for improvement and will monitor progress in the development and implementation of these strategies.
Picture (c) Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
