Health secretary addresses RCN Scotland conference

Published: 21 November 2012

As the people of Scotland live longer, and often with more than one complex health condition, the need to provide seamless health and social care services which meet people’s needs and allow them to live as independently as possible is getting urgent.  This was the backbone of the debate at today’s conference on the integration of health and social care hosted by RCN. The conference brought together nurses with representatives from local authorities, general practice and the voluntary sector, sharing the experience of potential partners from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Delivering the day’s keynote speech to an audience of RCN members, staff and activists, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Alex Neil MSP, emphasised the Scottish Government’s commitment to working with nurses and the RCN on the process to integrate health and social care. 

Commenting on day one of the two-day conference, Michael Brown, Chair, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Board, said:

“Today’s conference was all about listening to the perspectives of those people on the frontline who will be directly affected by the integration of health and social care.  Whether a health care support worker, a student, a registered nurse or a partner to nursing, integration will have an impact on everyone.  The change we are facing is complex and it is people and their relationships, not organisational structures, which are at the heart of successful integration. We must continue the process of listening to each other and remember that the driving force behind integrated care has to be the needs of patients first and foremost.”

ENDS

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Notes to editors

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the world’s largest professional organisation and trade union for nursing staff, with members in the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors. RCN Scotland promotes patient and nursing interests by campaigning on issues that affect our members, shaping national health policies, representing members on practice and employment issues and providing members with learning and development opportunities.  With around 39,000 members in Scotland, we are the voice of nursing.