The Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Parliament on 28 May 2013. The Bill legislates for the integration of functions of local authorities and Health Boards to support joined up health and social care that delivers better outcomes for patients, services users and carers.

The Scottish Parliament has designated the Health and Sport Committee as the lead Committee. Their role, as part of stage 1 examination of the Bill, is to report to the Parliament on the general principles of the Bill.  For this, they issued a call for written evidence by 2 August 2013. 

We held an event on the Bill and a Sounding Board to discuss the Committee’s questions with our members and considered other voluntary organisations’ responses before submitting our own response, which you can read here:

VHS Response – Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Bill Call for Evidence

We call for a stronger third sector involvement in the planning and delivery of integrated functions, including engagement with people who use health and social care support and services; the inclusion of a core focus on ensuring the effectiveness, quality, safety and consistency of services across Scotland; and the development of a ‘route map’ to integration, incorporating people-focused principles and partnership working, to accompany and complement structural reorganisation.

You can also read a selection of other responses here:

• The ALLIANCE
• Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland
• Children in Scotland
• HIV Scotland 
• Royal College of Nursing Scotland
• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations 

A full list of all responses are now available on the Scottish Parliament website.

As part of Stage 1, the Health and Sport Committee will also take evidence from a range of witnesses over a number of meetings, and the Bill will be subject to a parliamentary debate. If the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Bill at Stage 1, the Bill proceeds to Stage 2, which examines the detail of the Bill and any submitted amendments.  Voluntary Health Scotland will continue to work with a range of third sector organisations to ensure our member’s views are considered in these stages.

If you would like to discuss the Bill and its provisions in further detail, please contact Susan Lowes, Policy and Engagement Officer at susan.lowes@vhscotland.org.uk or by phone on 0131 474 6190.