Chamber and committees

We will move on to talk about prevention and early intervention. Our questions on that theme will be led by Gillian Mackay.

Alison Keir wants to come back in. I imagine that you want to speak about what was said in response to Tess White’s question, so I am happy to bring you in before we move on.

The next item is further consideration of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. We have two evidence sessions. The first evidence session will focus on the bill as it relates to the future of integrated health and care services, including community health, prevention, local services, rural services and transfer of functions.

First, I welcome panel members who are joining us in person. We have Nick Morris, the chair of NHS board chief executives and chairs; Alison White, the convener of Social Work Scotland; and Dr Chris Williams, the joint chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland.

We have two witnesses who are joining us online—Patricia Cassidy, who is the chief officer for Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership and is representing Health and Social Care Scotland chief officers; and Alison Keir, who is the professional practice lead in Scotland for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. Welcome to you all.

I will start off by asking for your general views on whether the bill as presented—this framework bill—has the potential to improve integration of services. One point has been put to us in a lot of the submissions from service users. I will quote one unpaid carer, who said:

“There is a lack of connection between health boards, councils, social care and public health. No joined up thinking.”

That is coming from somebody who is using the services, so I guess that our starting point is to look at the gaps and see whether the bill provides the framework, at the very least, for better integration. I will go round to each one of you. We will not be able to go round to each of you for every question, but—convener’s prerogative—I will allow everyone to answer my question, and then my colleagues will direct questions to individual witnesses.

A note for those who are joining us online—if I do not come to you in the first instance but you want to add anything, you can use the chat box to let me know that you want to come in. If you are in the room, just raise your hand and I will come to you. I will go round everyone in the order in which I introduced you. Nick Morris is first.

Yes.

Good morning and welcome to the 31st meeting in 2022 of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. I have received apologies from David Torrance; James Dornan will be substituting for him. James joins us online, as does Tess White.

The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take item 4 in private. Do members agree to do so?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you. You mentioned quite a lot of things on which my colleagues have specific questions.

There is a gap between the framework legislation, which will set the course, and the secondary legislation. You mentioned 70 workstreams. The national care service is not expected to be delivered until the end of this session of Parliament. Do you agree that that is a fair amount of time for the process to happen?

My apologies—I cut you off there. That is always the danger when there is a remote participant. Carry on.

Those were all the questions that we had. I thank Derek Feeley very much for the time that he has spent with us this morning and for tying the intentions of the report and those of the bill together. It has been very helpful.

That concludes the public part of today’s meeting. At our next meeting, the committee will continue its scrutiny of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill. There will be two more evidence sessions.

It is parity, full stop.