This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Community health partnerships
18/07/2003
Proposals aimed at devolving responsibility for local
health services to new Community Health Partnerships
(CHPs) were unveiled today.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said the plans, part of
the NHS Reform (Scotland) Bill, are designed to give
patients and staff a greater say in how their health
services are delivered.
They are being issued for consultation today to a range
of interests including NHS Boards, local authorities,
patient organisations and the voluntary sector.
CHPs would have control of budgets, devolved from Health
Boards, as well as representation from frontline staff as
an integral part of their management structure.
They would be responsible for the delivery of a wide
range of community health provision, such as GP services,
pharmacy and community nursing.
Mr Chisholm said:
"There is no doubt that healthcare professionals working
in the community have the direct knowledge of local needs
necessary to deliver better care.
"And there is no doubt that patients, with direct
experience of using local services, can and should have a
valuable contribution to make in determining the future
shape of local healthcare provision.
"That is why I want to devolve more power to frontline
staff in new Community Health Partnerships, which in turn
will be directly responsible to local communities for the
services they provide.
"I expect Community Health Partnerships to break down
the barriers to effective care by working more closely with
other parts of the NHS, and with other organisations, such
as local authorities or the voluntary sector, to deliver
care that is fully responsive to the needs of patients.
"This could mean GP practices and hospitals working
together to provide care closer to home for those with
chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and coronary
heart disease. Or it could mean local authorities working
together with NHS professionals to provide faster
rehabilitation for older people leaving hospital.
"For staff, Community Health Partnerships will also mean
the ability to directly influence decisions made at Board
level. And for patients it will mean direct contact with
local communities through Public Partnership Forums.
"I want to hear views from healthcare professionals but
also from everyone who comes into contact with the health
service, including patients, the voluntary sector and local
authorities, about how they see Community Health
Partnerships working in their area. I looking forward to
receiving the responses in the autumn."
CHPs are intended to evolve from Local Healthcare
Co-operatives (LHCCs) which were established four years ago
as voluntary groupings of GP practices to develop and
improve local services.
The consultation proposes that the Management of CHPs
should be drawn from a range of backgrounds including
Primary healthcare professionals, secondary healthcare
professionals, local authorities, patients and carers and
the voluntary sector.
It is proposed that Public Partnership Forums will be
supported by new arrangements nationally and locally under
the umbrella of the Scottish Health Council and its local
Advisory Councils.