Scottish Parliament to explore health and social care stakeholder engagment
The Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee are to explore whether or not integration authorities are doing enough to involve patients, carers, the third sector and other stakeholders in the design and future of health and social care.
All integration authorities have a duty to involve stakeholders and ensure that they are consulted and have a say on planning the future of health and social care services. The Committee wants to establish to what extent organisations are involved in the decision making of the integration authorities and what information is being consulted on.
Convener of the Health and Sport Committee Neil Findlay MSP said: “One of the reasons behind integrating health and social care was to ensure that the patient was put at the heart of all services – regardless of who was providing it. We want to establish how well this vision is being delivered on in practice.
“It is important that from the onset the new authorities utilise the knowledge and skills of all those partners in the delivery of health and social care. We want to see how that is being achieved and understand the many ways in which collaboration can improve the delivery of services to the public.
“It’s right that patients, carers, NHS staff, social care staff and the third sector do get a say in the future of health and social services and how these are being delivered. We hope to establish how well this is happening.”
The Committee is seeking the views of those with an interest in this issue and is asking:
- Do you know how and when you can get involved with the Integration Authorities (IAs) to influence decision making?
- Were you consulted in the preparation of the strategic plans or involved with the work of the Strategic Planning Group?
- Have you been involved with the work of the Integration Authority following publication of the strategic plan;
- Have you been involved with the work of the localities / what involvement would you like to have?;
- Do you think your involvement with the IAs has had an impact on decision making?;
- What could be done to improve the communication from the IAs;
- What could be done to ensure greater collaboration and engagement in the decision making process of IAs?
The deadline for the call for evidence is 8 March 2017 and you can find out more on the Committee’s webpage.
