Issued: 8 December 2004
Angus Commended For Local Improvement Targets
THE chair of the Angus Healthy, Safe and Caring Communities Partnership, a body to promote the well-being of local people, has welcomed the news that Angus is on target to improve services for individuals and their carers.
The Scottish Executive has commended local improvement targets for health and community care in Angus.
The targets were developed and agreed by Angus Council's Social Work and Health Department and the Angus Local Health Care Co-operative (LHCC).
They were then submitted to the Scottish Executive, which congratulated the partnership in making good progress on the development of the targets.
Councillor Bill Roberton, chair of the Angus Healthy, Safe and Caring Communities Partnership, which endorsed the targets, said: "I am pleased that the Scottish Executive has recognised the good work being done in Angus to meet these targets."
"Many of the targets relate to services for people over 65, including the issue of delayed transfer from hospital."
"Targets are now in place in Angus to support elderly people to lead independent lives through reducing inappropriate admission to hospital, time spent in hospital and enabling supported and faster discharge."
"Such delayed transfer is also known as “bed blocking” a phrase which may be useful to the headline writers but which is very negative and offensive to older people."
"In Angus we are determined that older people are not perceived as a burden or an inconvenience, and that with support they can live in comfort at home for as long as possible. It is important that people are cared for in the best place possible to meet their needs, whether that be at home, in residential or nursing care, or in a hospital setting."
The Angus Healthy, Safe and Caring Communities Partnership exists to improve the health of the community, promote the development of primary health based provision, and to maintain a safe environmental for all people in Angus.
Its members are drawn from Angus Council, NHS Tayside, Tayside University Hospital Trust, Angus LHCC, Tayside Police, Tayside Fire Brigade, and Communities Scotland.