The Argyll and Bute Integration Joint Board (IJB) held its latest meeting today (27 May 2026) where it discussed a number of key topics including the Health and Social Care Partnership Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) for 2026-2031.
The IJB approved the JSP for publication and the HSCP will now be moving forward with the key priorities detailed in the Plan.
Evan Beswick, Chief Officer for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “I was delighted that the Integration Joint Board endorsed our Joint Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2031 at its meeting on 27 May 2026. I would like to thank the HSCP staff who were involved in putting this excellent piece of work together and I would also like to thank those members of the public, staff and stakeholders who participated in our recent engagement process which greatly helped us with the development of the Plan.
“The JSP establishes the vision, values and strategic priorities to which we as an HSCP are committed, provides direction for how our health, social work and social care services should be developed over the next 5 years and describes the transformation that will be required to achieve this vision.
“It also sets out our priorities for delivering high-quality, sustainable care in a national context that has been shaped by demographic pressures, public sector policy and reform, as well as tightening public sector finances.
“This Joint Strategic Plan reflects our determination to deliver better lives through better services, even in the face of financial constraints. By aligning our priorities with Scotland’s financial realities, we will build a resilient, inclusive and future-ready health and social care system. In doing so, we will keep services safe and sustainable for the future.
“Partnership must also be at the heart of what we do. As an HSCP we play a vital role in helping people in Argyll and Bute live the lives to which they rightly aspire. However, we cannot achieve this on our own. We will collaborate with our partners - in the statutory sector, the independent sector and communities - to address poverty, inequality, loneliness and lack of adequate housing.
“As an HSCP we will prioritise person-centred care, placing individuals, families and carers at the heart of service design and delivery. Our focus on prevention and early intervention will help ease demand for our hospital services and support people to live independently in their communities while supporting those who care for them.
“Given the financial challenges that we are experiencing we must make difficult compromises and ensure that every service delivers maximum impact. This means embracing digital transformation, making our services more efficient and targeting resources where they are most needed.
“We will also uphold our commitment to equity and quality, ensuring that services are accessible and responsive, particularly for those individuals most affected by poverty, isolation, poor health or remote geography. This means more of our services will be targeted, in preference to universal.
“We will now be moving forward with the key priorities detailed in the Plan and we will continue to work closely with the people of Argyll and Bute, staff and our stakeholders.”