Response to Accounts Commission report stating reform is urgently needed to tackle precarious health and social care finances

The report states that community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious, and encourages IJBs to work with partners.

The Accounts Commission report states that community health and social care finances are increasingly precarious, and that Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) must urgently work with their partners in the NHS and councils to reform how they deliver services to achieve financial sustainability.

Sara Redmond, Chief Officer at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), called for better joint working, including with the third sector, and finances to back up Scotland’s national ambitions.

She said: “For over a decade, the ALLIANCE has closely engaged in the integration of health and social care in Scotland, from helping inform legislation to ensuring people’s experiences are heard.

“Integration of services is vital to achieving the national ambition that people receive the right care, in the right place and at the right time. To do this we must focus on person-centered prevention, early intervention and delivering accessible and equitable care and support in communities.

“In facing the stark challenges this report lays out, IJBs must work not only with their NHS and council partners, but with vital third sector partners too. Many of the community-based health and social care services commissioned by IJBs are delivered by highly skilled and innovative third sector organisations.

“The third sector is critical to achieving Scotland’s vision for health and social care, and is uniquely placed to address prevention, positively promote health and wellbeing, and to tackle health inequalities.

“Our members are rooted in, and trusted by, the communities they serve. They are often better positioned than statutory services to work with marginalised and disadvantaged communities, and to reach those most likely to experience health inequalities.

“IJBs and their partners must dedicate funding, resource and energy toward preventative approaches that have the potential to generate long term savings and support the sustainability of Scotland’s health and social care services. At the same time, the Scottish Government must increase the pace and level of investment in preventative, community-based services, and there must be investment and a commitment to shift the balance of care into communities and closer to people’s homes.

“The challenging financial climate IJBs, and indeed all public services are operating in, requires us to do things differently – to take bold, courageous leadership, to work more closely with the third sector and the people in their communities to reimagine how we design, deliver and invest in services for the wellbeing of all people across Scotland.”

End of page.