INDEPENDENT FUNDING REVIEW OF FREE PERSONAL & NURSING CARE: MINUTES OF MEETING HELD IN ST ANDREW'S HOUSE, EDINBURGH AT 10.00AM, ON FRIDAY, 4 APRIL 2008
Present: Lord Sutherland (Chairman)
Anne Jarvie
Mary Marshall
Jim Dickie
Professor David Bell
Rhona Dubery (Secretary)
In Attendance: Neil Rennick, Scottish Government: Community Care Division
Shaun Eales, Scottish Government: Community Care Division
Jenny Stevenson, Scottish Government: Community Care Division
Apologies
1. Rory Mair was unable to attend.
Introductory Remarks
2. Lord Sutherland noted that although Rory was unable to attend, he had written to Rhona with some comments of the final draft of the report she had circulated.
Minutes of Meeting held on 14 February 2008
3. The minutes of the ninth meeting held on Friday, 14 March 2008 (IFR-FPNC (08)4th Minutes) would be circulated and clearance sought electronically.
Draft Report: Consideration of Draft Report and Key Recommendations
4. Lord Sutherland invited the Group's comments on the final draft of the Review Group's report which Rhona had circulated on Tuesday, 1 April. He said that he had finalised his Foreword and Introduction and that the final wording was now incorporated in this final draft. He had sought to bring out the key messages as clearly as possible and set the tone for the rest of the report.
5. Rhona said that she had sought to pick up all the points raised at the last meeting or in correspondence exchanged with members since in as balanced away as possible. She thought that in considering this final draft the Group would want to pay particular attention to the text on:
(a) The rationale behind the Group's conclusion on the level of shortfall in funding and how it wished to frame its "best estimate" of the current shortfall ;
(b) "Entitlement" and the standardisation of assessment and delivery, including the question of a time frame for receipt of services . On standardisation, she said that Mary had been consulting with the Joint Improvement Team and SWIA on the final wording and how the practicalities of the expected approach to joint assessment and care management might best be illustrated. A flow diagram (tabled) had been drawn-up for this purpose with the intention of incorporating it in Chapter 6 of the report. Although it was "simplified" to an extent, it did offer a picture of how the process ought to work for the majority of people; and
(c) Attendance Allowance and the current imbalance in funding streams between the UK and Scottish governments.
6. In detailed discussion of the draft, the Review Group agreed the final set of recommendations and offered a number of drafting points on the final text.
7. The Review Group agreed that having incorporated the drafting points offered, Rhona should sign-off on the final draft report (clearing any areas of uncertainty with Lord Sutherland) and proceed with print arrangements. ( Action: Rhona and Lord Sutherland)
Presentation and Publication of the Final Report
8. Lord Sutherland said that he had had the opportunity shortly after the Review Group's last meeting, to up-date the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing on the Group's plans for presenting its findings and to explain the short delay in reporting. Arrangements had been set in hand for a news conference on Monday, 28 April, at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh - the day he would formally present the findings to the Cabinet Secretary - at which he would present the report and recommendations to an invited audience of press and broadcast media.
9. The Review Group noted and agreed the presentation and publication plans and agreed that those who could be present at the event should join Lord Sutherland in presenting the report.
10. The Group also agreed that advance embargoed copies of the report should be sent, under cover of letters from Lord Sutherland, to relevant UK and Devolved Administration Ministers and to the Auditor General for Scotland on the Thursday or Friday before publication. ( Action: Rhona)
Independent Funding Review of Free Personal & Nursing Care
Secretariat
April 2008