About the Inquiry
Background
The Committee agreed, as part of its budget scrutiny, to examine Integration Authorities’ (IAs) approach to engagement with stakeholders and whether or not IAs are doing enough to involve patients, carers, the third sector and other stakeholders over the design and future of health and social care in their local area.
The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 places a duty on integration authorities to ensure that stakeholders are fully engaged in the preparation, publication and review of strategic commissioning plans.
Regulations set out the people who must be consulted in relation to integration schemes, strategic plans and significant decisions in a locality.
- The standard consultees were outlined as:
- Health professionals
- Users of health care
- Carers of users of health care
- Commercial providers of health care
- Social care professionals
- Users of social care
- Carers of users of social care
- Commercial providers of social care
- Non-commercial providers of social care
- Staff of the Health Board and local authority who are not health professionals or social care professionals
- Non-commercial providers of social housing
- Third sector bodies carrying out activities related to health or social care
Timetable
The Committee held a formal evidence session at its meeting on 25 April 2017. At its meeting the Committee heard from a panel evidence session and then in roundtable format with stakeholders and Integration Joint Board representatives.
The Committee held an evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 13 June 2017.
Following this evidence session, on 20 June, the Convener wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.
On 20 July the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport responded to the Convener's letter.
Evidence
A general call for written evidence was issued on Monday 13 February seeking views from patient and carers representatives, NHS and social care staff, third sector organisations. The call for views closed on 8 March.
Read the call for evidence
Read the written submissions
Report