Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney seek approval on Public Service Reform Proposals

Next week, Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney will bring forward joint proposals to explore how their services can work more closely together. 

This follows months of constructive discussions between the two largest organisations in Orkney, aimed at reducing duplication and finding more efficient ways of working. The goal is to make services sustainable, in the face of a combined annual deficit of over £26 million. 

The proposals, titled “A Routemap to Reform,” are part of a wider push across Scotland to encourage public bodies to collaborate more effectively. The Scottish Government has been a strong supporter of this work and, if Ministers approve the proposals, £300,000 of funding will be provided to support the project. This would include recruiting two temporary officers and delivering community engagement as part of the approach. 

Next week’s meetings will give Elected Members, the NHS Orkney Board, and Orkney’s Integration Joint Board the chance to formally consider the proposals. The schedule includes a Council General Meeting on Tuesday, followed by the IJB meeting on Wednesday, and the NHS Orkney Board meeting on Thursday. 

If endorsed, the proposals will be submitted to the Scottish Government on Friday 12 December. 

Heather Woodbridge, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, and David Campbell, the Interim Chair of NHS Orkney, have said in a joint statement: “Orkney Islands Council and NHS Orkney are working together to make sure our services deliver the best possible outcomes for the local community, rooted in making our service delivery sustainable. 

“Next week, Elected Members and Board Members at both organisations will look at proposals to explore how our services can work more closely together. 

“What we propose is to research where these opportunities may be and how closer working could look in practice. 

“This “Routemap to Reform,” is the culmination of months of constructive discussion, facilitated by the Scottish Government, and reflects a shared ambition to create a stronger, more efficient public sector for Orkney.

“If approved, the work will be supported by £300,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s ‘Invest to Save’ fund. These funds will allow us to build the capacity we need to conduct this research and to hold public engagement activities to ensure the local community who depend on these services can have their say on reform here in Orkney. 

“By working together, we believe we can protect vital services, make better use of resources, and deliver benefits for the people of Orkney.” 

ENDS

Notes:

OIC General Meeting papers on Public Service Reform: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/media/3ceggpug/item-14-public-service-reform.pdf