Listen
Strengthening Scotland’s island health boards
12/11/2008
Plans to strengthen Scotland's island health boards by creating formal partnerships with mainland boards took a step forward today.
NHS Orkney is the first board to have agreed details of its partnership arrangements - in this case with NHS Grampian.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon also announced today that NHS Orkney will receive an additional £536,000 this year to bring its funding into line with other island boards. NHS Orkney faces a number of financial pressures and this funding will support the Board in meeting its challenges.
Under the partnership arrangement, Scotland's three island boards - Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland - each received an additional £250,000 annually to develop formal working partnerships with mainland boards.
The partnerships will be mutually beneficial, but will also allow the larger organisations to use their wider range of resources to support the island boards in taking forward key tasks and to maintain their status as fully independent Boards. This builds on already well-established clinical links between the boards.
NHS Orkney has now agreed the main details of a formal partnership with NHS Grampian which will provide support in areas such as public health, healthcare associated infections, financial analyst support, human resources and delivery of Orkney's clinical services strategy.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Scotland's island health boards have traditionally worked closely with mainland boards - especially NHS Grampian or NHS Highland - and it's good to see these arrangements now being formalised.
"I believe that by strengthening our island boards in this way we can ensure that they continue to prosper and offer the highest quality healthcare to people living in some of our most remote rural locations.
"Today I am also announcing additional funding for NHS Orkney of £536,000 for 2008-09. This is in line with the funding formula for NHS Boards as defined by the National Resource Allocation Committee."