The Scottish Government has vowed to improve the integration of health and social care services following a damning report by public services watchdog Audit Scotland.
The report says that while some improvements have been made to the delivery of health and social care services, integration authorities, councils and NHS boards need to show a stronger commitment to collaborative working.
All bodies involved need to tackle these issues as a matter of urgency, the report states, in order to transform the way services are provided for Scotland’s ageing population.
Caroline Gardner, auditor general, said: “All partners, at a national and local level, need to work together to ensure the successful delivery of integrated health and social care services in Scotland.”
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We recognise the report’s conclusions that, while we are already seeing improvements in terms of the balance of care in communities and hospitals, we have more to do with our partners in local government, the NHS and Integration Authorities.
“We want to step up the pace and agree that further progress requires our strong, shared leadership. We are committed to working together to deliver integration successfully because we believe it is the right way to deliver better services for the people of Scotland.
“Integration is the most significant reform to health and social care services since the creation of the health service in 1948.
“It brings together almost £9 billion which was previously managed separately in Health Boards and Councils, and this year includes more than £550 million of NHS frontline investment to support integration and social care.”
She added: “Changes this ambitious take time. With Cosla, we are reviewing progress to ensure we learn and apply lessons.”
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