This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Funding to expand primary care
02/10/2003
Primary care services received a boost today with investment of £10.5 million to improve community based services.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm announced a further £3 million for this year and £7.5 million for next. It will be spent in agreement with Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCCs) and through LHCCs on improving local services and employing additional staff. This will be a boost to help in the development of Community Health Partnerships.
In particular the funding with be targeted at:
* improving access to services in local communities;
* developing and improving the management of chronic diseases e.g. diabetes;
* managing mild and moderate health problems by promoting mental health and
wellbeing and improving access to a full range of locally-based, multi-agency services; and
* supporting improvements to services for children, older people and other
community care groups.
Announcing the funding the Minister said:
"This represents a significant increase to the existing programme of investment in primary care. It will allow LHCCs to address current local priorities and evolve into Community Health Partnerships that are in a better position to deliver effective community based services.
"The arrangements now in place are already expanding the range of services for local people. The establishment of CHPs will build firmer foundations for the multi-disciplinary approach so we will see, across Scotland, GPs, nurses, pharmacists, health visitors and a range of allied health professionals making full use of their skills to provide services to local communities.
"The overall objective is to ensure that primary care leads the way in meeting the needs of patients at local level and act as the co-ordinator of care for patients through their journey in the healthcare system.
"The establishment of CHPs will see more services in local communities, more decision-making at local level and more effective linkages with hospital services and social care.
"We expect that the combination of this increased investment and empowering frontline staff will secure improvements in health, reduce inequalities and modernise primary care services."
Jackie Britton, Chair of the Association of LHCCs welcomed the Minister's announcement of additional funding saying:
"The previous funding has undoubtedly made a difference to local services because LHCCs have been able to make local decisions about local service priorities. The announcement of this additional funding is a real boost for LHCCs enabling them to further develop services for local people."
This funding was allocated as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review
2002. It means that a total of £15.5 million this year and £20 million this year will be invested to expand community based services.
The White Paper, Partnership for Care, announced the establishment of
Community Health Partnerships from LHCCs. They are being legislated for through the NHS Reform Bill.