The integration of health and social care in Scotland
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In December 2011, the Scottish Government announced its plan to integrate health and social care in Scotland. We know that some areas of Scotland are already driving ahead with changes to community services. Clearly these reforms will affect our members, as well as staff working in partner organisations and the patients and families we work with.
The information on these pages is intended to keep you up to date with RCN’s work on health and social care integration.
Nurses' views on integration
Do you want to know what nurses think about integrated care? Did you attend our two-day conference on integration in November 2012? You can now read a report of the key themes raised by nursing staff from our This is change. This is Nursing health and social care conference.
Getting the integrated IT systems you need
The RCN, the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) and the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland (RCGP) have sent a joint letter to Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil MSP about the lack of focus on shared IT and information governance in integration plans. Our members have told us again and again this this is a major issue for 'joined up' working on the frontline. Once we get a response from Mr Neil we'll update you on these pages.
Informing the debate
Read our newest briefing which we sent to MSPs prior to their parliamentary debate on integration in early March.
Influencing the Scottish Government’s integration plans
The Scottish Government is planning major changes to how the NHS and local Councils will work together, and in partnership with the third and independent sectors, to improve patient care. Plans to integrate health and social care and shift more services to the community in Scotland will affect you whatever your role, wherever you work – so we are delighted that many members completed our integration consultation survey. Building on member input, research and wider consultation with partners, the RCN’s response (PDF 244KB) to the Government’s plans to integrate care is now available for you to read.
You can keep up to date with Scottish Government announcements on their dedicated web pages. If you have any further thoughts about the proposals to integrate care, you can email them to us at the RCN at policyscotland@rcn.org.uk
The RCN in Scotland Principles for Delivering the Integration of Care
Over the course of the last 18 months the Royal College of Nursing has been working hard to understand the implications of integration plans. We have commissioned research (PDF 697KB), explored existing integration activity (PDF 280KB) and consulted with members and other partners. Bringing all of this learning together we have published The RCN in Scotland Principles for Delivering the Integration of Care (PDF 293KB).
We want this document to have a positive impact on national and local developments. We will use it to influence proposals and to support our members who are leading, or facing, change.
If you have comments on the document, we would like to hear from you. Contact us at policyscotland@rcn.org.uk
Scottish Parliament inquiry into integration
The RCN also gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee inquiry into integration in March 2012. You can read what RCN said in the official report on the Parliament’s website. You can also read the final report (PDF 1.2MB) from the committee inquiry.