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Following detailed discussion, the National Demonstration Projects Steering Group has agreed proposals for Scotland-wide Learning Networks. These will be implemented by the Public Health Institute of Scotland. Project manager posts will be advertised shortly.

Since the publication of Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change, a number of steps have been taken to improve communications with and by NHSScotland. For example, ministers meet regularly with NHS Board Chairs, the Chief Executive of NHSScotland holds regular meetings with NHS Chief Executives and senior officials have regular dialogue with key stakeholder groups. The importance of effective two-way communication features highly in these discussions.Effective communication with patients and the public is a key theme of the plans outlined in Patient Focus and Public Involvement published in December 2001.Additionally, the Health Department has introduced a web-based Weekly Bulletin aimed at alerting the NHS, local authorities and other key stakeholders to publications, guidance and other papers issued by the department. The department has recently appointed a Corporate Communications Manager who will have a key role in working with NHSScotland to develop a structured programme to further improve communications.

Patient Focus and Public Involvement, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the actions identified in the Involving People section of Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change. It also set out detailed proposals for work over the coming three years on building capacity and communications, patient information, involvement, and responsiveness to equip the NHS to communicate with, listen to and work in partnership with individuals and communities.

The Community Care and Health (Scotland) Bill, introduced on 24 September 2001, Part 2, Section 12 allows NHS bodies and local authorities to work together in different ways by removing some of the legal barriers to joint working which currently exist.A consultation paper on the Executive's proposals for a Local Government Bill issued in early December 2001 with a closing date for responses on 6 February 2002. One of the proposals in the Bill is a general power for councils to promote the well-being of their area. This power will remove any constraints on councils from developing a broader and more innovative role. The legislation will introduce a duty on other bodies such as NHS Boards to engage in the Community Planning process. The Bill will be introduced in spring this year.The Executive is providing support for two posts based in COSLA which will further enhance local authorities' public health capacity. Funding of £1.5 million over three years has also been made available to support joint funded health improvement posts in every local authority.

During 2001 the Strategic Programme for Information & Management has been rewritten; a final draft version is on SHOW (www.show.scot.nhs.uk/imt) to allow for any final comments from the NHS. The draft strategy sets out national and local programmes and targets and is intended to establish greater collaboration and consistency of approach to the development of information management and technology across NHSScotland. It is likely to be published in February 2002.

Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, set out the Executive's intention to establish an expert group to support and advise local NHS Boards in managing changes in the configuration of services and to advise the Health Department on the appropriateness of local reconfiguration. I expect to make an announcement about this in the next few weeks.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21477.

Patient Focus and Public Involvement, published in December of last year, reported on steps taken to develop the actions identified in the Involving People section of Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change. It also indicated that NHS boards will be expected to take a pro-active and positive approach to public involvement on issues of potential service change. It stressed that involving the public should not be seen as something that has to be done at the end of a process, but something that is part of an integrated process of communication and discussion; where communities, patients, public and NHS staff have opportunities to influence decision making. The NHS must be able to demonstrate through this inclusive process that it listens to, is supportive of, and takes account of views and suggestions.Revised guidance on public involvement in service change will be issued in March.

The Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit has not yet been formally established. The Scottish Executive Health and Education Departments are working with the Health Education Board for Scotland, COSLA, and Learning and Teaching Scotland to establish the Unit within the first half of 2002.

The consistent development of clinical information systems across Scotland is being supported by the work of the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland, ISD and Audit Scotland. During 2001 they held two national meetings to review national databases in order to identify information sources suitable for monitoring the quality of direct patient care. A further meeting is planned with wider participation in spring 2002. In addition improving the quality of clinical information was a key strand of the recent CRAG Symposium, Improving Quality of Care for Patients: Sharing Principles and Practice. This showcased examples of good practice in developing consistent information systems to support direct patient care and to bring about improvements in patient management. CRAG has also supported the development of the Strategy Programme for Information & Management which sets out national and local programmes and targets for establishing greater collaboration and consistency of approach to the development of information management and technology (IM&T) across NHS Scotland. As part of this wider work CRAG will support a conference on IM&T systems in April.