NHS Fife health and social care integration

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed Fife NHS Board’s recent establishment of a Shadow Integrated Health & Social Care Partnership Board, which will work alongside the current Community Health Partnership Committees and oversee developments.

The new board will take an integrated partnership approach for NHS and Social Work services in Fife. It will reduce barriers between the services and ensure those in need of support are able to remain as independent as possible.

Mr Walker said: “The aim of providing a more coordinated service by Social Work and NHS Fife is good news. It will give older people and those with long-term health conditions the chance to stay at home rather than being treated in hospital.”

NHS Fife Chief Executive, John Wilson, said: “We are committed to ensuring that patients and service users have positive experiences which help to maintain or improve their quality of life.”

In addition to this important milestone for care provision in the area, in April 2012 NHS Fife also rolled out “Hospital@Home”. This successful initiative provides hospital-level care by providing a ‘virtual ward’ for patients in the comfort of their own homes.