Chamber and committees

The commencement date for the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 has yet to be decided by Scottish Ministers. In setting a date ministers will take into consideration the view of the SDS Programme board, who will make a recommendation after their next meeting on 18 February 2013.

After the powers and duties of the Act come into force, local authorities will continue to implement the National Strategy on Self-directed Support.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living with chronic pain can access high quality, safe and effective treatment as close to home as possible. The National Chronic Pain Steering Group is overseeing a range of work to assist boards in improving access to chronic pain services.

For a small proportion of people more specialised treatment may be required. National Services Scotland is currently assessing options for the most appropriate service model for Scotland. They expect to complete this work by the end of summer 2013, following which we will then be in a position to formally update Parliament and relevant stakeholders of the outcome.

NHS National Services Scotland is currently assessing options for the most appropriate service model for Scotland. This work is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2013.

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is currently assessing options for the most appropriate service model for Scotland. As part of its assessment NSS will consider the cost and clinical effectiveness of all the options. This work is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2013.

There is a national programme of work with local implementation plans in each local authority area.

The Scottish Government has received the independent evaluation on health board elections and alternative pilots and will be considering the implications of the information contained in the report early in 2013.

A copy of the final report was placed with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre on 20 December 2012 (Bib. number 54605).

The Independent Evaluation of the Health Board Elections carried out by the London School of Economics reported that turnout of eligible electors was 22.6% (26,516) in Dumfries and Galloway and 13.9% (39,761) in Fife.

The Scottish Government will take this information in to account as it considers the independent evaluation on health board elections and alternative pilots.

The Independent Evaluation of the Health Board Elections carried out by the London School of Economics reported that the pilot elections and associated publicity cost £299,406 in Dumfries and Galloway and £473,850 in Fife.

The Scottish Government will take this information in to account as it considers the independent evaluation on health board elections and alternative pilots.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living with chronic pain can access high quality, safe and effective treatment as close to home as possible. The National Chronic Pain Steering Group is overseeing a range of work to assist boards in improving access to chronic pain services.

For a small proportion of people more specialised treatment may be required. NHS National Services Scotland is currently assessing options for the most appropriate service model for Scotland. This work is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2013.

Local authorities will assess people for self-directed support under Section 12A of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. In discharging their duties local authorities are expected to have regard to statutory guidance. Further guidance on self-directed support will be issued under section 5 of the 1968 Act.