Chief Officer's Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 November 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 19 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 Integration Joint Board Agenda item: Date of Meeting: 19 November 2025 Title of Report: Chief Officer Report Presented by: Evan Beswick, Chief Officer The Integration Joint Board is asked to: • Note the following report from the Chief Officer Introduction I would like to welcome you to my Chief Officer Report for the November 2025 meeting of the Integration Joint Board (IJB). I would like to start with two highlights of recent weeks. It was my privilege to represent the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) at the Remembrance Day Service and parade in Lochgilphead again this year. I did that on behalf of all our teams across the HSCP in the town where we are headquartered, and it gave me time to reflect on the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in two world wars and other conflicts. During this period of reflection I also had time to recognise the extraordinary development that has been the health and social care system over the past nearly 80 years. There is no doubt that the health and social care sector is in a challenging position just now, and part of that challenge is to change the direction of travel from a growing sector to one which recognises that health and wellbeing are much broader than our work, while still maintaining the quality, standards and values that are core to everything we do. This is a generational shift and one that our IJB papers today engage with. Over the past few weeks I have been engaging with staff across the organisation through a series of “Coffee and Connect” sessions and it is clear there are no easy answers to the challenges facing the health and social care sector, but I am grateful to colleagues who have shared their thoughts and experiences. That dialogue - both with staff and communities - has been key over the past months and will be over the next year. In my report I have also included details of the consultation that is currently ongoing in relation to the development of our new Joint Strategic Plan for 2026-2031. It runs until 10 January 2026 so there is still time for you to feedback your thoughts and comments which will really help us bring the development of the plan together.
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2 My other highlight over the last few weeks was that I delighted to hear feedback from our maternity teams who shared with me the experience of the principle midwife from South Australia following her visit to the department. She talked about dedicated midwives providing women-centred care across our challenging geography and said: “I would have like to have bottled what you have in Argyll and Bute and brought it back with me”. I want to recognise the ability of our teams to provide rural general care with professionalism and pragmatism. This is not contradictory to engaging with difficult service change and I would note the improvement and redesign work that our maternity teams have been engaged in over the past months. Many of you will have seen in the news the reports around a national review of maternity services across Scotland so the work our team have been doing locally could not come at a better time. I and leaders within Nursing and Midwifery are fully engaged with colleagues in NHS Highland to understand the implications of that national review. You will see from the IJB papers that the financial position within the HSCP remains critical and we are continuing to overspend in the current year, for example on external children’s placements which are extremely expensive but which we have a statutory duty to provide. Our budget outlook for the next three years also highlights a significant funding gap and if no action is taken then this will be approximately £6m for Social Work/Social Care services and £12m for NHS services. To help address this financial challenge, the IJB at its last meeting in September approved a new policy to place a decision threshold for care at home above 28 hours per week. This was a clear policy steer from the IJB and teams have been working on both the process and practice changes required to implement this. This is a complex change and I recognise this has been challenging for staff and communities and I would like to thank all those who have been involved in delivering it. The impact of this policy decision is now being monitored, on a weekly basis, both in terms of the adverse impact on unmet need in the community and delayed discharges from hospital, and the favourable financial impact. Whilst this is an important step in contributing towards a return to a more sustainable financial position, it is not enough. The HSCP will continue to work on further proposals/recovery plans for service changes and reductions being developed in advance of the budget cycle for 2026/27. I had the pleasure on 16 October of welcoming Joe Griffin, the Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary, to Lorn & Islands Hospital during his two day visit to the Oban area. I was delighted to show him around the hospital and introduce him to many of our local health and social care staff and to outline the fantastic work that they are doing. I was grateful for the interest he showed in rural issues, and I was able to outline the balance between rural general care and access to specialism that is central to our population, and the ways in which this could be further supported through our national and regional structures. On the 22 October I attended the official opening of the new radiology suite in Campbeltown Hospital. This followed an investment in the facilities at the department and relocation to a site within the hospital that was more accessible for staff and patients. It was a really good day and my thanks go to all staff and contractors who were involved in bringing this project to a really positive conclusion.
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3 As an HSCP we are continuing to use innovative ways to consult with patients and one of these is the Near Me service which gives patients the choice to attend appointments via video call when it is clinically appropriate. I was delighted to hear that our dietetic team, who are doing great work in this area, have been invited to attend a national webinar to highlight the benefits the system has for patients within the specialist weight management service. I would like to finish by congratulating a number of colleagues across the HSCP. Pauline Jespersen from our hospital at home team in Oban was shortlisted for the Leader of the Year Award at Scotland’s Health Awards which were held recently in Edinburgh. Although she just missed out on winning the award on the day my thanks got to her for all that she is doing every day for the people of Oban and surrounding areas. Congratulations also to Zain Younis who won the Pharmacist Award at Scotland’s Health Awards for his work in transforming pharmacy care in Campbeltown by introducing innovative clinical services like Pharmacy First Plus and diagnostic ear checks. His improvements have expanded care access and reduced pressure on other services. I would also like to say well done to Helen Smith, one of our Senior Support workers from Dunoon, who has been selected as the winner of the University of the Highlands and Islands (Argyll) Higher Education Award having completed her SVQ4 in Social Services and Healthcare an impressive four months ahead of schedule. Thank you once again for taking the time to read my Chief Officer report and please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or suggestions for inclusion in future reports. HSCP Updates Joint Strategic Plan Consultation The HSCP is developing a new Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) for 2026–2031. This plan will guide how health and social care services are delivered across Argyll and Bute and we have been asking communities, staff, carers, providers, and partners to share their views and help shape the future of care. The consultation on the JSP started on 10 October and will continue until 10 January 2026. We have been asking all interested parties to get involved and share their views. There have already been a range of opportunities to get involved (including local community conversation drop in events which took place across the HSCP from 10 October - 4 November 2025), sharing views through our online questionnaire and asking us questions directly on our engagement hub. We would like to thank everyone who has participated in the consultation so far. Your feedback will help us: understand what matters most in your area, identify risks and opportunities, finalise the plan and report to the IJB in March 2026. There is still time to feedback your thoughts and further information on how to get involved is available here.
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4 Permanent Secretary Visit to Oban The Scottish Government’s Permanent Secretary, Joe Griffin, visited the Oban area on 16-17 October where he held a number of engagements and visits with a range of organisations including Argyll and Bute Council and the HSCP. As part of his visit we were delighted to welcome him to Lorn & Islands hospital on 16 October and show him around the hospital and introduce him to many of our local health and social care staff and outline the fantastic work that they are doing for the local communities in the Oban area. Scotland’s Health Awards My congratulations go to Pauline Jespersen from the Hospital at Home team in Oban who was shortlisted as Leader of the Year at Scotland’s Health Awards which were held recently in Edinburgh. Being shortlisted for this award is to celebrate someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and who is driving positive change, improving services, and putting quality at the heart of care. These qualities are apparent in the work that Pauline does and although she just missed out on winning the award on the day my thanks got to her for all that she is doing every for the people of Oban and surrounding areas. I would also like to congratulate Zain Younis who won the Pharmacist Award for his work in transforming pharmacy care in Campbeltown by introducing innovative clinical services like Pharmacy First Plus and diagnostic ear checks. His improvements have expanded care access, reduced pressure on other services and made a lasting impact in the rural community. Scotland’s Health Awards celebrate the achievements of those individuals and teams who go above and beyond to deliver compassionate, high quality health and social care to the people of Scotland. They recognise the contribution of frontline health and social care workers and also those who work behind the scenes in support roles. Investment in Radiology Department in Campbeltown Hospital A project to renew the radiology equipment in Campbeltown Community Hospital, as well as relocate the radiology department, was completed in October 2025. The department is now situated beside Accident and Emergency which is a huge benefit to both patients, as well as to staff, as patients will no longer need to be transported from A&E to the other end of the hospital to be x-rayed. There has also been a significant investment in new equipment and the department is now fully digital with the digital detectors built in to the table and the system centres and moves itself which makes the whole experience much more comfortable for patients, and for staff. I am delighted by this investment in the department and my thanks go to the radiology team and everyone else involved in bringing this fantastic project together.
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5 Coffee and Connect Informal Events A number of Coffee and Connect online events were held during October and November to provide staff with an opportunity to join and have an informal chat with myself and some of my senior managers to discuss current health and social care issues. I would like to thank everyone who participated in these events for their enthusiasm, the range of questions they asked and their commitment to Argyll and Bute and the people who use our services. First Aid for Youth Mental Health Training The HSCP has fully funded a really important online training programme to help with first aid for youth mental health. This training programme is open to anyone who supports children and young people in Argyll and Bute such as education staff, HSCP staff, GPs, primary care teams, youth group leaders, volunteers, and third sector staff. The aim of the training is to provide participants with the knowledge and confidence to spot the signs of common mental health challenges in young people and how to provide effective support. Power of Us - Health and Social Care Integration Conference The Power of Us event held at the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel on 5 November 2025 marked ten years of health and social care integration in Scotland. This national learning event convened leaders from across sectors to reflect on progress and accelerate reform aligned with the 2025–2035 Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework and Delivering for Scotland. Key themes at the event included prevention, place-based leadership, digital wellbeing, and rights-based community support. Delegates engaged in hybrid sessions and workshops showcasing local innovation. This included Living Well, Ageing Well which featured Argyll and Bute HSCP’s Living Well Strategy, highlighting community-led approaches to wellbeing. The event reinforced the importance of relationships, lived experience, and collective leadership in tackling systemic pressures and advancing health equity. It offered challenge and practical insights for Integration Joint Boards as they navigate the next phase of transformation. Service Updates Winter Vaccination Programme I would like to thank the Community Treatment and Care Team (CTAC) and support staff for their ongoing delivery of the Winter Flu and COVID vaccination programme. I know that they have been working tirelessly to ensure that everyone who is eligible has the opportunity to be vaccinated. If you are eligible, you will receive a letter, email or text message with details of your appointment or information on how you can book one. Further information is available at NHS Inform.
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6 Weight Management Service Use of Near Me As an HSCP we are continuing to use innovative ways to consult with patients and one of these is the use of the Near Me service which gives patients the choice to attend appointments via video call when it is clinically appropriate. This can be convenient for patients as it means in many cases they will not have to travel for a consultation. Many of our teams and departments are making really good use of Near Me and our dietetic team, who are doing great work in this area, have been invited to attend a national webinar hosted by the company that supplies the software for Near Me to highlight the benefits the system has for patients within the specialist weight management service. Tigh-a-Rudha Care Home Tigh-a-Rudha Care Home on Tiree recently hosted a successful opening event to celebrate the completion of its refurbishment and remodelling. The works have made a significant difference to the aesthetics of the facility and to the services that can be offered. It also means that all the residential care rooms now have en-suite facilities and meet current standards for residential care. Key Worker Accommodation Good progress continues to be made in respect of the HSCP’s key worker accommodation, and awards and nominations continue for the project between Argyll and Bute Council, Shelter, and the HSCP. We now have nine key workers in accommodation made possible by the project, with more opportunities to increase this nearing completion. Investment from the Strategic Housing Fund has been instrumental in making this happen. Additionally, there are many permanent members of staff who have been assisted to find housing, as part of their relocation process. Improving Outcomes for Children and Young People in Argyll and Bute The Scottish Government recently published their eighth Children’s Rights Unit Update which highlights the progress that has taken place in placing children’s rights at the heart of decision making in Scotland. This latest update includes details of an United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) project (funded by the Scottish Government Innovation Fund) that is taking place right here in Argyll and Bute. The Children and Young People’s team at Argyll and Bute Council worked with an external organisation to create and develop an illustrated local UNCRC plan with the aim of improving accessibility. This followed on from previous work around an illustrated Child Poverty Action Plan that was found to be a useful tool in engaging children and young people in discussion around the plan.
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7 The result of this innovative work has been an increased awareness of the UNCRC plan with a range of stakeholders, most importantly with children and young people. Although it was developed with primary and secondary aged pupils, Early Learning Centres have requested copies as practitioners have found it a useful visual tool to engage pre-5 children in relation to their rights. National Updates (this section consists of key health and social care announcements from the Scottish Government) Half of adults have at Least One Long-Term Condition The Scottish Health Survey 2024 results provide information on the health, and factors relating to health, of adults and children in Scotland. Half of all adults now have at least one long-term condition, continuing the upward trend. Almost two in five adults (39%) reporting having a long-term condition that limits their activities. Further information is available here. Residential Rehabilitation Funding An innovative funding programme to help make sure residential rehabilitation placements are available where they are most needed has been extended by the Scottish Government. The £2 million Additional Placement Fund allows Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) in areas where demand is high, to more easily access money if their existing funding has run out. Further information is available here. Scotland’s New Health and Social Care App MyCare.scot, Scotland’s new health and social care online app, will be made available to everyone across Scotland from April 2026, following an initial launch in Lanarkshire in December. The new online service will transform how people access and interact with health and social care services. Users will be provided with a secure digital identity, access to some personal information and the national service finder from NHS inform. Further information is available here. Reducing Drugs Harm More people impacted by drugs have received support after the Scottish Government funded 225 community-based projects across the country. The National Drugs Mission Funds distributed almost £13 million in grants in 2024-25 through the Corra Foundation. In 2024-25, there were more than 51,000 interactions with support services, an increase from 33,613 the previous year thanks to sustained funding. Further information is available here.
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8 News Expansion of Phio App for Patients The HSCP is to expand its successful partnership with health tech company EQL through the further development of the digital Phio app, which can be accessed from any electronic device such as a mobile phone, computer or tablet. This new development, which will be a UK first, will not only offer rapid access to expert support for people with muscle or joint problems through the app on a 24/7 basis, it will now support direct referrals into local physiotherapy services without the need to make an appointment with a GP practice. The existing trial of the Phio app has already helped many people to recover from muscle or joint problems from the comfort of their own homes which means that ‘face to face’ physiotherapy resources can be targeted towards those patients who need to see a clinician or who may require surgery. Between 20% and 30% of all visits to GP practices relate to a muscle or joint problem and the new process will allow patients immediate access to assessment, supported self-management programmes or direct referral to local NHS physiotherapy services without the need for an appointment at a GP practice. This new process not only aims to offer rapid access to expert support for people with muscle or joint problems but will also free up capacity within our busy GP practices as most people will no longer need to contact the Practice for an appointment. Stoptober Campaign Launched in Argyll and Bute During the month of October, the NHS Highland Smoke-Free Service was encouraging people across Argyll and Bute to quit smoking as part of the Stoptober Campaign. Stoptober is a good challenge for anyone who is thinking of giving up to try and quit for one month - quitting together with family or friends often means people are more successful, and it’s a more positive experience as you can help each other along the way. People are also up to five times more likely to quit for good if they make it to 28 days smoke-free. NHS Highland’s Smoke-Free Service offers support via phone, video calls using the NHS Near Me facility or in-person appointments, depending on their location across Argyll and Bute and people who wish to give up smoking, vaping or nicotine pouches can receive 12 weeks’ support and medication with specialist trained advisers. Further information is available here. Stoptober is a national campaign to encourage people to quit smoking, which remains the leading cause of preventable death in Scotland.
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9 Staffing Updates HSCP Staff Member Wins Higher Education Award I would like to congratulate Helen Smith who has been selected as the winner of the University of the Highlands and Islands (Argyll) Higher Education award having completed her SVQ4 in Social Services and Healthcare an impressive four months ahead of schedule. Her assessor, Silvia Jost, praised Helen’s proactive approach to her studies, strong communication skills, and ability to apply theory to practice. Her early completion of the course, positive attitude and passion for learning make her a truly deserving recipient of this award. Helen is based in Dunoon and is a Senior Support Worker working for ASIST Day Support Service which provides a day service for adults with learning and physical disabilities, offering both centre-based and community activities. Senior Manager, Mental Health and Addictions Services (Adult) I am delighted to announce that after a successful interview, David Kirk has been appointed as Senior Manager, Mental Health and Addictions Services (Adult). David will take up his new role on Monday 1st December 2025 and I wish him every success.