Scotland’s new Health and Social Care Standards have been launched, with human rights at their core.

The standards, which will be implemented on 1 April 2018, will apply to the NHS as well as services registered with the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and set out the standard people should expect when using health or social care services.

They are focused on improving people’s experience of care and are based on five outcomes:

• I experience high quality care and support that is right for me.
• I am fully involved in all decisions about my care and support.
• I have confidence in the people who support and care for me.
• I have confidence in the organisation providing my care and support.
• I experience a high quality environment if the organisation provides the premises.

They are also underpinned by five principles: dignity and respect; compassion; be included; responsive care and support and wellbeing; which reflect the way that everyone should expect to be treated.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said:

“I’m delighted to launch our new Health and Social Care Standards and commend all of the hard work that has gone into creating these new, human rights-based standards.

“The new standards are wide reaching, flexible and focused on the experience of people using services. One of the major changes is that they will now be applicable to the NHS, as well as services registered with the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

“Everyone is entitled to high-quality care and support, designed for their particular needs and choices. This could be in a hospital; a care home; a children’s nursery; or within their own home.

“Each and everyone one of us at some point in our lives will use, or know someone who uses a health or social care service. That’s why these Standards are so important – to ensure that everyone in Scotland receives the care and support that is right for them.”

CEO of Scottish Care, Dr Donald Macaskill said:

“To be treated with dignity, to be related to as an individual and to achieve what you can in life are at the heart of all good care and support. I am delighted that the new Health and Social Care Standards enshrine a human rights based approach to the way in which services support some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“They are a great opportunity for those who work in health and social care, those who use the services and wider Scottish society to work together to create a world-class system of health and social care. By the means of the new Standards Scottish Care providers will join with others in making rights real for the citizens of Scotland.”

You can access the new Health and Social Care Standards here.

Last Updated on 9th June 2017 by Scottish Care