This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding to expand primary care
02/10/2003
Primary care services received a boost today with
investment of £10.5 million to improve community based
services.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm announced a further £3
million for this year and £7.5 million for next. It will be
spent in agreement with Local Health Care Co-operatives
(LHCCs) and through LHCCs on improving local services and
employing additional staff. This will be a boost to help in
the development of Community Health Partnerships.
In particular the funding with be targeted at:
* improving access to services in local communities;
* developing and improving the management of chronic
diseases e.g. diabetes;
* managing mild and moderate health problems by
promoting mental health and
wellbeing and improving access to a full range of
locally-based, multi-agency services; and
* supporting improvements to services for children,
older people and other
community care groups.
Announcing the funding the Minister said:
"This represents a significant increase to the existing
programme of investment in primary care. It will allow
LHCCs to address current local priorities and evolve into
Community Health Partnerships that are in a better position
to deliver effective community based services.
"The arrangements now in place are already expanding the
range of services for local people. The establishment of
CHPs will build firmer foundations for the
multi-disciplinary approach so we will see, across
Scotland, GPs, nurses, pharmacists, health visitors and a
range of allied health professionals making full use of
their skills to provide services to local communities.
"The overall objective is to ensure that primary care
leads the way in meeting the needs of patients at local
level and act as the co-ordinator of care for patients
through their journey in the healthcare system.
"The establishment of CHPs will see more services in
local communities, more decision-making at local level and
more effective linkages with hospital services and social
care.
"We expect that the combination of this increased
investment and empowering frontline staff will secure
improvements in health, reduce inequalities and modernise
primary care services."
Jackie Britton, Chair of the Association of LHCCs
welcomed the Minister's announcement of additional funding
saying:
"The previous funding has undoubtedly made a difference
to local services because LHCCs have been able to make
local decisions about local service priorities. The
announcement of this additional funding is a real boost for
LHCCs enabling them to further develop services for local
people."
This funding was allocated as part of the Comprehensive
Spending Review
2002. It means that a total of £15.5 million this
year and £20 million this year will be invested to expand
community based services.
The White Paper, Partnership for Care, announced the
establishment of
Community Health Partnerships from LHCCs. They are
being legislated for through the NHS Reform Bill.