Shifting Balance of Care
The health and social care system in Shetland is changing. We are moving from a hospital-centered system (acute care) to a community-centered system (primary and social care). This means people will receive more care closer to home and a wider range of more community based health and social care services.
The overall goals are to improve health outcomes, make health and social care fairer and more sustainable, and to empower communities to take charge of their own well-being.
Here are the key changes:
- More care will be provided in community settings or even at home, instead of hospitals.
- People will be encouraged to take a more active role in managing their own health.
- Communities will be more involved in designing and delivering health and social care services.
This transition will involve:
- Training and development for health and social care workers.
- Increased use of technology for communication and service delivery.
- Building stronger support networks within communities.
There are 3 main ways (workstreams) that we will help us to achieve the Shifting Balance of Care's goals
1. Developing our ways of working
Aim: People are able to get the right care, from the right person, at the right time in their own community
Objectives:
- Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) available to all localities
- Health and care is provided via an effective network making best use of resources, and decreasing unfair differences in provision across localities
- We provide services based on best evidence of need and effectiveness
2. Enhancing the person-centred approach
Aim: Prevent crisis by enhancing care/support, and access to care/support in the community
Objectives:
- Early Intervention – we identify and support need earlier through a systematic and targeted approach
- A human-rights based approach where people are equal and informed partners in their own care
- Our system supports people in the way they need, when they need it
3. Strengthening Community Ethos
Aim: Grow community assets so appropriate, enriching, community led support is readily available.
Objectives:
- We understand the health and care needs of our communities
- Health and care services make best use of community led support as part of their care
- People know about, and are supported to access, support in their community