DESIGNED TO CARE

Renewing the National Health Service in Scotland

92. The Government intend to retain the Management Executive within The Scottish Office Department of Health as the "Head Office" of the NHS in Scotland. As well as its role in supporting Ministers, the Management Executive will have 5 other key responsibilities.

Developing Health Service Policy

93. This is a well-established feature of the Management Executive's role. Hitherto, the Department has worked very closely with colleagues in the Department of Health in London. The Government intend that co-operation will continue between England and Scotland following devolution, but the Management Executive will enhance its own policy-making role so that it can provide full support to the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament.

Setting National Strategic Direction

94. The annual Priorities and Planning Guidance is the principal document setting out the strategic direction for the NHS in Scotland. The Management Executive will continue to produce this Guidance, supplemented by more detailed strategic statements on specific services such as cancer and mental health; and on the inter-relation of services in the light of the work of the Acute Services Review. But the Management Executive will also be expected to take a key role in facilitating the implementation of strategy, where it is evident that improvements in health require a nationally co-ordinated programme.

Handling Issues affecting several Health Boards

95. Between those issues which can only be addressed at a national level, and those which are of concern at the local level, there are a number of health planning matters which straddle existing Health Board boundaries. The Management Executive will take a more active role in helping Health Boards to work together to address these regional planning concerns.

96. The Government also intend that the Common Services Agency should continue to provide a range of services for the NHS throughout Scotland. The range and nature of those services will be reviewed in the light of the changes set out in this White Paper.

Managing the Performance of the NHS

97. In recent years the process of holding the NHS to account for its delivery of Ministerial objectives has focused on the work of Health Boards. This will continue, but Chairmen of Trusts will in future be expected to attend the annual Accountability Review meetings, and Trusts will be expected to account for their performance to the public by publishing a broader range of indicators of clinical performance.

Promoting Leadership

98. In such a diverse organisation as the National Health Service in Scotland it is necessary that services are effectively managed and led. The Government believe that the Chief Executive and the chief professional officers in the Management Executive have a vital role in fostering local leadership so that the changes set out in this White Paper are implemented effectively.