BMA Scotland Comment on consultation on health and social care integration
(issued by BMA Scotland Tuesday 08 May 2012)
Commenting on the launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on adult health and social care integration, Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:
“An ageing population combined with a difficult public spending environment poses a very significant challenge for the provision of health and social care and there is a need to plan a co-ordinated system of community, hospital and residential health and social care to cope with a range of needs for an increasing number of older and very old patients.
“While the intention is to provide an increased proportion of community-based services, quality hospital-based health care will need to be maintained and developed for those who need it.
“The BMA has advocated a review of Community Health Partnerships for some time and we have welcomed the commitment to replace these failing organisations with new Health and Social Care Partnerships. However it is vital that these organisations do not get bogged down in bureaucracy and instead focus on patient care in local communities. We are therefore pleased that the Scottish Government has explicitly stated that the role of doctors will be strengthened in these new structures.”
Ends
A copy of the consultation document is available online at: http://bit.ly/JmlK1x
For further information please contact:
BMA Scotland Public Affairs Office (Telephone: 0131 247 3050)
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL
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07768 005 850
email: press.scotland@bma.org.uk
http://bma.org.uk/mediacentre