Joining up health & social care – Mcleod welcomes passage of Public Bodies Bill

The new legislation focuses on making services better for patients, especially those with long term conditions and disabilities, many of whom are older people, across Scotland by providing joined-up, seamless health and care social provision closer to home.

 

Dr McLeod, who spoke in the final debate on the Bill last night said:

 

“I am delighted the Parliament has passed the most substantial reform to Scotland’s NHS for a generation and, in doing so, created the legislative framework which will allow us to improve outcomes for the growing number of people who need health and social care support, most of whom have multiple complex needs, some of whom are older and all of whom should have access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

 

“In Dumfries & Galloway we have some excellent examples of good practice which is already working well. I recently visited the Crossroads Newton Stewart & Machars Care Attendant Scheme in Wigtown, in Dumfries and Galloway, which provides a range of services, including respite care, personal care, palliative care and assistance with transport and shopping.

 

“The staff do a fantastic job in enabling more people to live independently, through close partnership working with social work services, the NHS, the community hospital in Newton Stewart, Marie Curie Cancer Care nurses, occupational therapists and other health professionals. Their services help to integrate the care that an individual receives. They already deliver care in a person-centred way, but of course they are working in one area of a large rural region.

 

“The Public Bodies Bill will help us to make that sort of service, which is arranged around the needs of the individual rather than the needs of different organisations, the gold standard across our region and Scotland as a whole. I believe it will be remembered as a radical and substantial improvement to the way in which we look after Scotland’s people.”

 

Notes: Aileen’s speech in yesterday’s debate can be found here:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=8962&mode=html#iob_80879