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Plans to strengthen island health boards
10/07/2008
Scotland's island health boards are to receive additional government funding to allow them to strengthen their key management functions.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced today that the three island boards - Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland - will each receive an additional £250,000 annually and each board has agreed to use this funding to develop more formal working partnerships with mainland boards.
Under these arrangements, formal agreements will be put in place between Western Isles Health Board and Highland Health Board, while Orkney and Shetland's boards will be partnered with Grampian Health Board. The detail of these arrangements will be worked out locally between the partner boards.
The move is designed to strengthen the island boards' human resources, finance, governance and planning functions. It builds on the extensive cooperation that already exists around clinical services.
The island boards will remain independent and these arrangements are designed to strengthen that independence.
The partnership arrangements forms part of the Scottish Government's response to the Audit Committee's report into NHS Western Isles.
Other key parts of the government's response include:
- Confirmation that the government is content to agree the Board's financial recovery plan for 2008/09 to 2010/11.
- A commitment, subject to continuing satisfactory progress from the board, that the government will provide brokerage to cover the cumulative deficit, allowing the board to clear its deficit and make repayment in the future.
- That following the extensive investigations that have taken place, the time is now right for the health board to focus on the future and, in particular, the ways in which it can further improve health services for the people of the Western Isles.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Establishing links supported by additional resources will enhance island boards' independent status by strengthening their management and governance arrangements.
"It will build on the clinical links that have already been established, recognising the particular challenges facing island boards which can impact on their management capacity and performance.
"The introduction of partnership arrangements between island and mainland boards forms part of our response to the recent audit committee report on NHS Western Isles.
"I now want Western Isles Health Board to concentrate on looking to the future, while ensuring that lessons are learned from what has happened in the past.
"That's why we have concluded that no further investigation or inquiry is needed and we will work with Western Isles Health Board to ensure they are delivering the services their communities deserve."
The Audit Committee published its report into NHS Western Isles on May 6. The Scottish Government's response to the report has been sent to the Audit Committee and will be considered by the committee when parliament resumes in September.
Partnership agreements between island and mainland health boards are agreed annually.