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Scottish Borders Disability Forum
Forum News
NHS Scotland Wheelchair and Seating Services
Newsletter: issue 1 December 2007
Moving forward (Review of Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland 2006)
The Report identified 40 Recommendations divided into themes:
Redesign of Service delivery
Referral Assessment and Provision
Management
Information management and systems
Education and Training
Repair, Maintenance and Support
Facilities
Particular Considerations for Children’s Services
Investment:
The recent comprehensive Spending Review has identified a total of £16 million additional funding, over 3 years, to invest in wheelchair and seating services and to support the implementation of the report recommendations. The funding forms part of the Scottish Government’s budget for the next 3 years and is subject to agreement by the Scottish Parliament in January 2008
Moving forward – Modernising Wheelchair and Seating Services
Background:
In December 2004 a petition was submitted to the Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament by a concerned parent, supported by 1,292 users, carers and staff, within the wheelchair and seating services, requesting it ‘to resolve the current critical problems in the provision of wheelchairs and specialist seating services within NHS Scotland through a review which, in consultation with users, addressed minimum standards, the scope of equipment provided and the delivery of services’. An independent review was commissioned and the steering group was chaired by Professor Martin Ferguson-Pell, Aspire Chair in Disability and Technology, Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences, Institute of Orthopaedics and Muskuloskeletal Science, University College London. The resulting report Moving Forward Review of NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services in Scotland March 2006) was published in June 2008 and contains 40 recommendations. These address a range of issues.
Project Board
A Project Board has been established to drive forward the modernisation and redesign of wheelchair services in Scotland and to identify actions from the review to be taken forward that best meet user and carer need. Chief Executive NHS Grampian, Richard Carey, chairs the project board which has a wide membership including user and carer representation, rehabilitation, professionals, service providers and disability / equality representatives.
Project chair, Richard Carey, says
“ The Project Board will develop an action plan, identifying the best meet the needs of the users of wheelchair and seating services and that are achievable, measurable and most effective use of resources. Our priority is to improve the delivery of services, which will directly improve the quality of life for wheelchair users and their carers across Scotland.”
The agreed remit of the Project Board can be found at:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/wheelchair
Project Board Membership:
Chair: Richard Carey, Chief Executive NHS Grampian
Geoff Bardsley, Head of Service, TORT Centre, Dundee
Ruth Cleland, Head of Communications NHS Highland
John Colvin, Head of Service, WESTMARC, Glasgow
Andrew Daly, Head of Financial Planning and Allocations NHS GG&C
Janet Garcia, National Project Manager
Anne Harkness, Director, Rehabilitation Directorate, NHS GG&C
Liz Rowlett, Scottish Disability Forum
Sylvia Shearer, Patients and Quality Division, Scottish Government
Ronald Skinner, Patient Representative
Roseanne Urquhart, Head of Healthcare Strategy NHS Highland,Chair of Rehabilitation and Technology Advisory Group Scotland
COSLA, Rep to be confirmed
Wheelchair User Involvement
The Wheelchair Services Project Board will continue to inform wheelchair users and carers throughout the development of the Action Plan and the decision-making around the prioritisation of the investment.
Project Board member and Wheelchair User representative, Ron Skinner MBE noted the outcome of the Spending Review:
“This is a positive move in the right direction. Wheelchair users have waited a long time for this opportunity. There has been extensive and widespread consultation in developing the recommendations and I am delighted to be involved in the challenging task of taking this to the next stage and being part of their implementation.”
Ron has been a wheelchair user for most of his life and knows first hand about the importance of keeping mobile.
Action Plan
The action plan will be developed over the next year and is due to be published in December 2008. Janet Garcia, recently appointed project manager, says:
“We have a unique opportunity to develop and improve services for wheelchair users and their carers in Scotland. Collaborative approaches with a number of service providers are needed to improve the infrastructure and to ensure equity across Scotland.”
Implementation of the recommendations will support the long-term strategic vision within NHS Scotland to promote social inclusion, provide faster services, care closer to home, support self care, and promote health.
Further News:
Minutes of the Project Board meetings and associated documents can be seen on our website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/wheelchair
Contacts:
Project Manager: Janet Garcia
Tel: 0130 244 2867
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