POLICY: Scottish Government consultation on a Review of the National Islands Plan for Scotland

The National Islands Plan was published in 2019 under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018. Scottish Government says the plan is “framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for island communities.” The 2018 Act says that the plan must be reviewed every five years to see if it needs to be changed. The consultation asks if it does and, if so, in what ways. RCN’s response contains suggestions for changes to the plan to do with the provision of health and social care on the islands.

We concentrate on changes to the way that Strategic Objective 7 should be taken forward: “to improve and promote health, social care and wellbeing.” We highlight the issues of workforce recruitment and retention and safe staffing, as well as those strategic objectives that must be addressed as a priority to properly support the delivery of health and social care: transport, housing, fuel poverty, digital, and education. This response benefits from the views of members with experience of and expertise in the delivery of health and social care on the islands.