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�CARING� AGREEMENT TARGETS IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY

An agreement that aims to provide people who require care in the community (hospital, residential or home care) with a better and faster service, less duplication and better use of resources has been agreed between The Highland Council and NHS Highland.

The Highland Community Care Partnership Extended Local Partnership Agreement reflects ministerial encouragement for the two agencies to deliver real outcomes for the public.  

Groups which support or represent users and carers, have taken an active part in the framing of the agreement and they have been given a firm commitment that they will be consulted fully on developments.

NHS Highland Chairman Garry Coutts and The Highland Council Convener Alison Magee pictured signing the agreement, with Roger Gibbins, left, Chief Executive of NHS Highland and
Arthur McCourt, Chief Executive of The Highland Council.

The headline targets are:-

• Supporting more people at home as an alternative to residential and nursing care;

• Assisting people to lead independent lives through reducing inappropriate hospital admissions, reducing time spent inappropriately in hospital and enabling supported and faster discharges from hospital through service developments;

•  Ensuring people receive an improved quality of care trough faster access to services and better quality services;

• Better involvement of patients, service users and carers.

The agreement was signed earlier this week by the leaders of both organisations.

The Highland Council Convener Alison Magee said: �This new agreement demonstrates all the benefits of partnership working.  By working together, we can maximise the use of public funds, remove duplication and hopefully provide better services locally in an open and accountable way.�

Chairman of NHS Highland, Garry Coutts said: �I welcome this agreement which centres on delivering real improved outcomes for people in our communities.  By ensuring that we have a clear local focus and defined local targets, we will be able to see where we are improving and where we need to give more attention.�