Health and Social Care

Integration and the Spirit of Collaboration

March 26, 2015 by Linda White No Comments | Category Uncategorized

The spirit of collaboration suggests that when specialists from different disciplines work together, then potential is unconfined.

Collaboration as a concept is also at the heart of the integration of health and social care, and in this case is enforced by the underpinning legislation. It is clear that by joining up the work of Health Boards and Local Authorities, patients will have smoother journeys through care, and that this will lead ultimately to better personal, local and national outcomes.

We believe that collaboration is also at the heart of our own, National Services Scotland (NSS) response to the integration agenda – driving our functions to work closely, innovatively, together – to in turn provide solutions to the challenges our partners face:

• Managing quality and pace: One of the risks of the process of collaboration is that of introspection and a lack of pace. Deadlines are demanding – effective project management is essential.  Often assurance is required to provide comfort that the programmes of the Joint Boards are fit for purpose.  Acquiring local capability may be challenging and these gaps need filled.

• Connecting IT: Collaboration can be particularly tricky when it comes to technology – uniting IT infrastructure with a lack of common standards and systems is complex.  Investigative analysis of the infrastructure and building IT capability,supports and facilitates the needs of Joint Boards in Health and Social Care Information Sharing and assists in meeting the ambitions of government’s Digital Future plans.

These are all areas where NSS can support partners through the integration process.  With Scottish Borders for example, our IT experts are providing support to the development of strategic plans for the Joint Board, and through our information management propositions, we’re exploring information sharing solutions to some of the challenges the board will face when delivering these plans.

Getting into the spirit

NSS are embracing the collaborative approach – after all, we only exist to work closely with our partners to deliver benefits to the people of Scotland. And the more we do this, the more learning and efficiencies we can achieve together. Now’s the time to enter the spirit – and let our collective potential be unconfined.

For more information please contact Matthew Neilson, Director of Customer Engagement and Development, NHS National Services Scotland.

Tags: Collaboration, Integration, National Services Scotland, NSS

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