Introduction to policy
The Scottish Government has key stakeholders that have priority areas relating to NHS Boards. This page gives an overview of key strategic priorities and policies that relate to NHS Scotland.
Sign up to join an interactive online session on orientation, policy and governance for further information and understanding of how it all fits together.
The Programme for Government 2020-21
Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: the Government's Programme for Scotland 2020-2021
This Programme for Government sets out the Scottish Government's response to key challenges and opportunities. It commits to:
- a national mission to create new jobs, good jobs and green jobs - with a particular focus on our young people, supporting retraining and investing in our Green New Deal to tackle climate change
- promoting lifelong health and wellbeing - by tackling COVID-19, remobilising and reforming the NHS and social care and tackling health inequalities
- promoting equality and helping our young people fulfil their potential
Health and Social Care Policy Videos
The Policy Videos on this site were filmed and made available in September 2019. Due to COVID-19 we have been unable to update these.
While a number of the department Directors have changed the content of each is still relevant as are the linked documents with each video.
See below the current organisational chart for the Director General Health and Social Care Office.
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The high level structure of DG Health and Social Care, including titles, roles and responsibilities. Accurate as of June 2020.
Health and Social Care Integration Directorate
Related Resources:
Background and general information - Scottish Government
Health and social care integration:update on progress - Audit Scotland
Ministerial Strategic Group for Health and Community Care review report - Scottish Government
Health Workforce, Leadership and Service Transformation Directorate
Related Resources:
Everyone Matters - Scottish Government
Staff Governance Standard - Scottish Government
Staff Experience Report - Scottish Government
iMatter Guidance - NHS Scotland
Workforce Plan - Scottish Government
Project Lift
Healthcare Quality and Improvement Directorate
Related Resources:
Quality Strategy - Scottish Government
Patient Safety Inititative - NHSScotland
Public Sector Improvement - Scottish Government
Person Centred Care - Scottish Government
Cancer Plan - Scottish Government
Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative - Scottish Government
What matters to you? - Scottish Government
Care Opinion Survey - Scottish Government
Chief Nursing Officer
Related Resources:
Active Independent Living Programme - Scottish Government
Health and social care safe staffing law passed
Health and social care staffing legislation - Scottish Government
Health and social care National Standards - Scottish Government
Hospital Acquired Infection Standards and Audits - Scottish Government
Health Performance and Delivery Directorate
Related Resources:
Delivering Public Value - NHS Education Scotland
The 7 principles of public life - Committee on Standards in Public Life
Mental Health Directorate
Our ten-year Mental Health Strategy set out our ambition for mental health. We have committed to £250 million of investment in mental health support in our Programme for Government. We aim to reform children and young people's mental health services, to take a 21st century approach to adult mental health, to respect, protect and fulfil rights, and to make suicide prevention everybody's business.
Our aim reflects the need for a whole-system approach to mental health. We will do this in partnership with people using mental health services and their families, with the mental health workforce, with our colleagues in Local Government, and with delivery partners across the public and third sectors.
Related Resources:
Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027 - Scottish Government 2017
Public Health Reform
The Public Health Reform Programme has three drivers for change.
Public Health Review 2015
Health and Social Care Delivery Plan 2016
Commission on the future delivery of public services 2011
Each of these has lead to key priority areas being identified and the overarching vision of creating 'a Scotland where everybody thrives'.
Public Health Reform aims to address the inequalities of health across Scotland with 6 key priorities.
- A Scotland where we live in vibrant, healthy and safe places and communities.
- A Scotland where we flourish in our early years.
- A Scotland where we have good mental wellbeing.
- A Scotland where we reduce the use of and harm from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
- A Scotland where we have a sustainable, inclusive economy with equality of outcomes for all.
- A Scotland where we eat well, have a healthy weight and are physically active.
Public Health Reform Stakeholder Monthly Updates - COSLA and Scottish Government
Public Health Reform - COSLA and Scottish Government
Scotland's public health priorities - COSLA and Scottish Government