What is trying to be achieved. These ambitious proposals aim to shift the balance of care from hospital-based to community, with a focus on prevention. This will be achieved through investment in our community health and care workforce and implementation of the Local Care Model, targeting the cohort of patients with complex needs to keep them well and independent, and out of institutional care wherever possible. The solution is wider than health, and true partnership working is needed to address health inequalities, deprivation, economic and workforce challenges and really make Caithness an attractive place to live and work. It is only by working in partnership that we can address these significant challenges and make our services more sustainable and better able to meet the needs of the local population.
What is trying to be achieved. These ambitious proposals involve a redesign of adult health and social care services in Caithness and aim to shift the balance of care from hospital-based to the community, with a focus on prevention. Two new Community Health and Wellbeing Hubs will be created in Wick and Thurso, bringing together community integrated teams with GP practices, registered care homes, community hospital beds, supported living accommodation and community and third sector support. Recognising that our workforce is our greatest asset, this will require investment in our community health and care teams to provide care closer to home in line with national and local strategy, and to reduce pressure on already stretched hospital services. The plans also include a reconfiguration of Caithness General Hospital, the rural general acute hospital in Wick, to allow the building to support the delivery of modern healthcare now and into the future. This will include addressing the need for increased provision of single- room accommodation with en-suite facilities. Whilst this business case has a specific focus on investment in local health and care services, in line with the place-based approach, we recognise that the solution is wider than health, and true partnership working is needed to address health inequalities, deprivation, economic and workforce challenges and really make Caithness an attractive place to live and work. This will improve recruitment and retention and redress the balance of working age to older age population. Key to the success of this programme of improvement is building on the community resilience that came to the fore during the pandemic, and we will continue to work with our communities and the voluntary sector through the Community Planning Partnership to build health for all.
