Chief Officer's Report
Argyll and Bute Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute HSCP Integration Joint Board (IJB) — 17 September 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 Date of Meeting: 17 September 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 This is a daunting time to present a report on the health and challenges of our health and social care system. I’ve highlighted in my updates to the Board over the past year that we face a historic point in the health and social care sector, whereby the resources (in financial and people terms) have now outstripped the demand our society places on the system. I am very mindful of the point made over a decade ago by Campbell Christie in the Christie Commission report on the future delivery of public services: “It is important to recognise that the underlying financial challenges facing the future delivery of public services are not solely, or even principally, a consequence of the current budgetary situation. They also reflect long-standing needs in Scottish society as well as new demands, particularly from demographic change.” I want to recognise in my report here those two factors. One, that demographic change is real, is with us and is driving the serious financial difficulties within health and social care. That requires difficult decisions such as today’s about the parameters we must set around the care we provide. We are looking, at this IJB meeting, for approval for the first stage in a plan to reduce costs through the implementation of a threshold of care for our care at home services. We are recommending that this is a proportionate policy choice to help us to deliver care within the staff and budget we have at our disposal, prioritise those with the greatest need and make access to care fairer across all areas. We carried out an HSCP wide consultation on this proposal during August and I would like to thank all the members of the community and our staff who attended a series of events where we explored this issue through our engagement process. More detailed information on the outcomes and feedback from this consultation is available within the associated paper that will be discussed at the meeting. I was humbled by the conversations I had through this process – some challenging, some supportive – and the overwhelming sense of a public wanting the space to talk to us
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2 about the future of health and social care. My team and I are taking on this invitation over the coming months. I need to be clear, however, that this will not solve our financial situation, and the choices we bring to you over the coming months will not be so easy to recommend as proportionate or with impacts that we are fully able to mitigate. I and Chief Officers across the country are continuing to make the case nationally that our demographic change must be taken into account in funding decisions within the sector. I note the key strategic shift that recognises the comparatively small role that health and social care services play in peoples’ overall wellbeing, as outlined in the Population Health Framework. But both statutory and independent sectors need time and support to transition to new models or new investment priorities. The second factor is about our long-standing needs, that still require a shift in our practice. While we must make difficult decisions on spend, we cannot do only this, and I am inspired by the work that teams across Argyll and Bute have being doing on whole system transformation – redesigning our urgent care system to move from a reactive, dependency-building model to one where people’s needs are proactively supported, and their care, when they most need it, is driven by their strengths not weaknesses. This is a historic shift both in organisational structure and professional practice which will take time. This has been supported via government investment through the operational improvement plan and Argyll and Bute has ensured that we have maximised the investment in our services through this fund. We had the pleasure of welcoming Jenni Minto MSP to Lorn & Islands Hospital in June for an event hosted by our local Allied Health Professionals. In August we were also delighted to welcome Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, as well as Jenni Minto MSP, to Lorn & Islands Hospital where they found out more about how the Hospital at Home initiative is working locally. They also heard directly from our nursing staff, clinicians, patients and their families about the transformative impact this programme is having. They were aware of our Living Well work, which is a sector-leading example of preventative care. We must now work to make this programme sustainable, working with other partners to ensure long term funding in these challenging times. It is also vital that we do not lose sight of our responsibility to consistently improve services, both through redesign and through partnership. In my report I have also included the good news that there will be a £315,000 investment in Struan Lodge Care Home in Dunoon. This will be funded by Argyll and Bute Council and follows a decision made by the Council and the HSCP to undertake essential improvement works. I am delighted by this significant investment in Struan Lodge and it is great news for the residents and the fantastic staff who work there. This investment does not exist in isolation, though, and we must follow through with our strategic redesign of residential care, working with the people of Argyll and Bute to bring forward innovative options which enable us to make future-focussed rather than reactive investments. One of the really important areas of work that HSCP staff have been involved in is the development of a new online mental health hub that has been created for the HSCP and which has been designed for anyone in Argyll and Bute looking for help, advice, or support with mental health. Resources such as this are so important and play a vital role in helping people access support for their mental health.
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3 I was also extremely interested by the learning exchange that took place recently when colleagues from the HSCP and the Council hosted representatives from St Helena and the UK Government in Argyll and Bute so that we could exchange ideas and outline how each of us deal with the challenges that we have in delivering services. It was a really positive meeting and my thanks to everyone who participated in the exchange. Throughout this challenging period I recognise that communication and engagement will be vital. On 29 August I was delighted to hold our latest stakeholder briefing session with elected members to discuss the good work carried out by our staff across Argyll and Bute and also outline some of the challenges that we are facing as an organisation. I am finding these sessions very useful and I would to thank our elected members for their continued engagement with the HSCP. I would like to finish by welcoming two new members of my team to the HSCP. Eilidh Gallagher is our new Head of Primary Care and started in her new role on 18 August 2025. She joined us from NHS Forth Valley, where she was Head of Person Centred Care, and has a wide range of experience across a number of acute services and strategic management portfolios. Caroline Robertson joins us as our Head of Adult Services for Hospitals and Community Services. A registered social worker, Caroline joins us most recently from the charity Combat Stress, and also brings with her a wealth of experience from HSCPs across the west of Scotland. From her time working in other HSCPs she recognises some of the challenges that we are discussing today and I’m delighted to bring that experience into the partnership. Welcome, both. Thank you once again for taking the time to read my report and please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or suggestions for inclusion in future reports. HSCP Updates Ministerial Visit Highlights Success of Hospital at Home Initiative We were delighted to welcome Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, and local MSP for Argyll and Bute, Jenni Minto, to Lorn & Islands Hospital on 20 August. During their visit, they learned about our Hospital at Home initiative and heard directly from our nursing staff, clinicians, patients and their families about the transformative impact this programme is having. The key benefits from this initiative include: • Patients maintain independence and freedom in their own homes • High-quality hospital-level care delivered in familiar surroundings • Positive outcomes for both patients and families • Innovative approach to healthcare delivery in rural communities The visit provided an excellent opportunity to showcase how innovative healthcare solutions can improve patient outcomes while supporting our commitment to
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4 person-centred care. We're grateful to both Neil Gray and Jenni Minto for taking the time to engage with our team and hear these inspiring patient stories first-hand. This initiative demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering accessible, high- quality healthcare that meets the needs of our communities. Learning Exchange with St Helena In July, Alison McGrory (Associate Director, Public Health), Councillor Dougie McFadzean (IJB Vice Chair) and David Gibson (Chief Social Work Officer) hosted a learning exchange between Islay and the British Overseas Territory St Helena. Martin Henry, St Helena’s Minister for Health and Social Care was joined by Natalie Wright from the UK Health Security Agency and they were both interested in learning about health and wellbeing initiatives and what enables our remote and rural communities to live a good life in good health. Islay and St Helena have many similarities in the size of the population and age demographics, although at nearly 2,000km off the coast of Africa, St Helena is much more remote than our island communities. The visit to Argyll and Bute included a meeting with the Mactaggart Leisure Centre where the staff were very enthusiastic about the wide range of services they provide, including transport from outlying areas. The successful partnership with GPs and other staff referring to the centre was celebrated. Next Dr Angus Mactaggart shared his experiences of delivering both routine and emergency healthcare to Islay and Jura residents. Martin was particularly interested in the rural specialty training available to medics in Scotland. In the afternoon, the group met with South Islay Development who explained the work they have done over many years on both community resilience and providing community assets and services, for example local bike and walking paths. Discussions also took place about the positive and negative impacts of the whisky industry on the island. Jenni Minto Visit to Lorn & Islands Hospital On 16 June, Argyll and Bute MSP, Jenni Minto, joined Allied Health Professional (AHP) staff at Lorn & Islands hospital for an event hosted by the HSCP’s Associate AHP Director Linda Currie. During the visit, Jenni Minto was updated on the vital work of the local trauma team in collaboration with the West of Scotland Major Trauma Services. The Lead Physiotherapist shared impressive outcomes from the redesigned Active Clinical Referral Triage process, including a 67% reduction in referrals to Orthopaedic Surgery, and also outlined the roll-out of a triage and self-management musculo- skeletal App coming soon to Argyll and Bute. This is a great example of digital innovation leading to better outcomes and lower cost. There was also a presentation from the Falls, Frailty and Prevention Lead about the development of the Living Well prevention programme with data highlighting its positive impact. An update was also provided on the weight management dietetic
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5 service and the importance of early intervention in children and young persons’ AHP services was also emphasised. Care Inspectorate Report In May 2025, the Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced inspection of registered support services that are provided from Lorne’s support base in Oban. This included the Community Resource Team, which is co-located and integrated within the Lorne Day Support base. This team provides housing support for a small number of adults with a learning disability who may also have a physical disability. The support services team provide day support for adults who have a learning disability and may also have a physical disability or are also neurodiverse. We would like to thank the Care Inspectorate for their report which evaluated the services as 'good' across 4 areas. We are really pleased for the team, and the people we support, that Lorne achieved 'good' across most of the areas inspected. We will work closely with the Care Inspectorate on any actions that they highlighted. Employee Assistance Programmes Colleagues in Lorn & Islands hospital in Oban had the opportunity on 1 July 2025 to attend a wellbeing event that was arranged to highlight the support services available from NHS Highland and the new Employee Assistance Programme provider, Health Assured. Services at the event included representatives from Health Assured and also the NHS Highland Education, Learning and Organisational Development team who were highlighting the range of wellbeing resources available online. Further information on the employee assistance resources available online for HSCP staff can be found below. NHS staff - NHS Highland Staff Wellbeing Hub Council staff – Argyll and Bute Council Employee Assistance Programme Care Home Games 2025 From the 18th August to the 5th September care homes across Argyll & Bute were competing in the ‘Care Home Highland Games – Battle of the Clans’ against our neighbours in North Highland. Residents are competing in a number of activities including tossing the caber, flinging the haggis, lawn and ten pin bowling with the highest scoring team in each activity winning a trophy. Alongside our activities we also have ‘Best Decorated Home’ ‘Best Team Name’ ‘Best Family Input’ and Staff Step Count Challenge. These are categories that everyone has contributed to, whether that’s creating uniforms, decorating the home, playing the bagpipes or dancing! The residents have been instrumental in delivering these games from care homes all across our localities - Tiree, Islay, Bute, Campbeltown, Dunoon, Oban and
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6 Helensburgh. We’ve had Gala Days, Sports Days, Open Days, Opening Ceremonies, naming of the chieftains and a rickshaw torch relay along the waterfront in Dunoon - all captured and shared across social media. My thanks goes to Scottish Care for helping to develop and pull all this together and a huge thank you as well to all the residents, staff, families and friends for doing a great job delivering these games. Service Updates Online Mental Health Hub A new Online Mental Health Hub is now available to help people in Argyll and Bute find the right support for their mental health and wellbeing. Created for the HSCP, the hub is designed for anyone in the area looking for help, advice, or support with mental health. The site brings together trusted information about local and national services and makes it easy to find what you need. Whether you’re looking for help for yourself or someone else, the hub is a one-stop place to get started. There is information on a range of areas including: • 24/7 helplines and support services • Support for children and young people • Help for older adults • Advice on money or housing worries • Free mental health and suicide prevention training • Tips on self-care and looking after your mental wellbeing The hub is easy to use and includes support for people from a wide range of backgrounds and needs. There’s also information for carers, friends and family, and free training to help people feel more confident in supporting mental health - whether it’s their own or someone else’s. To explore the hub, visit the Living Well website Consultation on Care at Home Services During the month of August the HSCP carried out a consultation on care at home services asking for views on a proposed change that would help us make sure care is available to more people who need it, in a fair and sustainable way. The proposal was to introduce a threshold of care for our care at home services. This change would help us: • Prioritise those with the greatest need • Make access to care fairer across all areas • Deliver care within the staff and budget we have Further information on the outcome of the consultation and the feedback received is available in the pack of papers presented to the IJB meeting.
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7 Campbeltown Hospital Investment Campbeltown Hospital opened up its new Xray department in August after a 7- month refurbishment of the former Bengullion ward. The department has been relocated from the original location within Campbeltown Health Centre and is now adjacent to the Accident and Emergency and Physiotherapy Department providing improved coordination of hospital services for patients and staff. The project was made possible thanks to funding from the HSCP for the building works and NHS Highland for the new equipment and represents a significant investment in modern, high quality health services within Kintyre. National Updates (this section consists of key health/social care announcements from the Scottish Government) Helping to Identify Cancer Earlier Clinicians will be able to refer patients with symptoms which might indicate cancer for tests more quickly following the introduction of new revised guidelines. For the first time, the guidelines include referral criteria for people with non-specific but concerning symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, nausea or weight loss - helping ensure more patients can be assessed earlier, even when their symptoms don’t point clearly to a single type of cancer. The updated Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer provide primary care clinicians with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidance to help identify patients with signs and symptoms suspicious of cancer who require urgent referral for specialist assessment. Further information is available here. More Planned Appointments to Reduce NHS Waits Extra investment to tackle NHS waits is expected to deliver more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year. Additional funding of £106 million was set out in the 2025-26 Budget, and an extra £4 million for dermatology activity has also been announced. Further information is available here. Expanding Care for Patients at Home A new £85 million investment will be targeted at front line NHS frailty services, helping to improve the flow of patients throughout hospitals and providing care for patients in the comfort of their own homes. The ‘Hospital at Home’ service is to be expanded to 2,000 beds by December 2026. It predominantly provides care for frail, older people in their own homes and who may be suffering with acute illnesses and health conditions, including respiratory and cardiac conditions, infections, or treatment after a fall. Further information is available here.
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8 Improving Mental Health Nursing Care People affected by mental health issues can expect higher and more consistent standards of care following the publication of Scotland’s Mental Health Nursing Review. The Review outlines ways to enhance and further support the mental health nursing profession. The paper was developed by mental health nurses and students, academics, with support from carers and people accessing mental health nursing care. Further information is available here Creating a Healthier Scotland Supporting people to lead longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives will be at the heart of two new ten-year plans published today to create and maintain good health, prevent disease and reform health and social care services. The Population Health Framework aims to tackle the root causes of poor health and outlines a wide range of actions, including giving greater access to green spaces and opportunities for sport and active recreation. The Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework aims to ensure health and social care services are sustainable, efficient, high quality, and accessible - which includes being able to expect faster and fairer access to care. Further information is available here. Care Reform (Scotland) Bill Passed Plans to transform social care across Scotland will be progressed after the Scottish Parliament approved the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill. Thousands of people with experience of accessing, delivering and receiving social care, social work and community health services have helped co-design the legislation, putting people at the heart of reform. Further information is available here. £106 Million to Reduce Waiting Times More than £106 million has been allocated to health boards to help tackle the longest waits for procedures and operations. The funding has been assigned to specialty areas for the year ahead where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits - this includes £25 million for trauma and orthopaedics, £21 million for imaging, £14 million for cancer treatment and more than £12 million for ophthalmology. Further information is available here. News Volunteers Week Celebrated in Argyll and Bute The HSCP was pleased to celebrate Volunteers Week in June, honouring the incredible dedication and hard work of all volunteers across Argyll and Bute. This
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9 special week was an opportunity to recognise the invaluable contributions and dedication that truly make a difference to the lives of many people and services in our local communities. Our volunteers exemplify the spirit of kindness and generosity, consistently enhancing the quality of diverse services. Their support and service play a crucial role in building stronger and more resilient communities. We would like to thank all the exceptional former and current volunteers for their recognised acts of kindness, dedication and hard work within Argyll and Bute communities. Further information on volunteering opportunities locally is available here. Volunteers Week ran from Monday 2 June through to Sunday 8 June 2025 and is a UK-wide campaign that celebrates and recognises the contributions of volunteers. £315,000 Investment in Struan Lodge Care Home Struan Lodge Care Home in Dunoon is to benefit from a £315,000 investment following a decision made by Argyll and Bute Council and the HSCP to undertake essential improvement works. The investment, which will be funded by the council, will see the home’s electrical system and heating upgraded and the roof restored. The facility will remain open throughout the works, however, there will be a temporary pause in the number of rooms in use to make the maintenance works possible. This was made to ensure residents do not require to move out of Struan Lodge when works commence, recognising that it is their home. As a result of the temporary reduction in bed use, there will also be a temporary pause on any new admissions, until the works are complete. The Council and the HSCP are preparing a timeline for the work to begin and an anticipated completion date. A further update confirming these details will soon be issued. I am delighted by this significant investment in Struan Lodge. This is great news for the residents of Struan Lodge and the fantastic staff who work there. I apologise for any necessary disruption but am confident that the approach we are taking ensures this is minimised. My thanks go to the estates and care home teams on the ground working though this together, and my colleagues at Argyll and Bute Council for their support for this project. Staffing Updates New Business Manager for Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership We are pleased to announce that Jim McSorley was recently appointed as the new Business Manager for the Argyll and Bute Alcohol and Drug Partnership. Jim has more than six years of experience in the health improvement sector, combined with thirteen years in the third sector.
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10 His expertise includes managing community-based programmes aimed at preventing alcohol and drug misuse, particularly among young people. Recently, he was involved in initiatives regarding local alcohol availability and licensing, with a strong focus on implementing Alcohol-Based Interventions. Further information is available here Head of Primary Care Appointment We are really pleased to announce the appointment of Eilidh Gallagher as the Head of Primary Care for the HSCP. She began her new role on 18 August 2025. Eilidh joined us from NHS Forth Valley, where she was Head of Person Centred Care. In her NHS career she has gathered 17 years of experience across various acute services with 10 years of operational and strategic management experience in various clinical portfolios across local, regional and national services. Eilidh’s extensive management expertise and professional experience will be invaluable in leading primary care services. Further information on the appointment is available here. The Head of Primary Care of the HSCP is responsible for leading primary care health services and ensuring the delivery of high-quality healthcare. This role encompasses a wide range of services, including General Practice (GPs), Dentistry, Community Treatment Services, and Vaccination programmes. Head of Adult Services I am delighted to let you know that we have appointed Nikki Gillespie as the substantive Head of Adult Services, Complex Care and Registered Services. Nikki has worked for the HSCP in a number of different roles and we are really pleased that she has been appointed to this new role on a substantive basis. We have also appointed Caroline Robertson to the role of Head of Hospitals and Community Care and she started in her new role on 8 September 2025. Caroline joins us from Combat Stress, a UK-leading Veteran’s Mental Health Charity, where she was Head of Operations, Scotland and Northern Ireland. She also has worked extensively in other HSCPs, across Scotland, and brings with her a wide range of experience to the role, and to our SLT. I would also like to take this opportunity to personally recognise and offer my gratitude for the work that Donald Watt has achieved in this role, and over the continuing interim period, at this important time in our transition as a Partnership.