Danish delegation hear how integrated health and social care services are working in Aberdeen

16 September 2015

Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership played host to a delegation of health professionals from Sonderborg in Denmark.

The Danish delegation visited Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village in Fredrick Street to learn about the health and social care partnership working of Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian and other partner organisations, including the voluntary sector.

Aberdeen City Councillor Lesley Dunbar in her role as Chair of the shadow Integration Joint Board and Judith Proctor, Chief Officer of Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) welcomed the delegates to the day-long event.

The HSCP manages a wide range of community based health and social care services. It is working towards the full integration of primary care, specialist services and social care to ensure that health is placed at the heart of service planning and delivery. This will empower those who provide care to deliver service improvements through changes in the way skills and resources are deployed.

Delegates heard how the partnership is endeavouring to align and co-ordinate services to deliver improved experiences and outcomes for the people who use our services.

The delegation of health care professionals included Tim Hansen, Director of the Department of Health Services, Sonderborg and Claus Klaris, Vice Chairman of Sonderborg Health Board.

Chair of the shadow Integration Joint Board Aberdeen City Councillor Lesley Dunbar said: "I was delighted to welcome the Danish delegation to this special meeting as we want to share our commitment and motivation to work closely with the citizens and communities of Aberdeen to deliver good quality, person-centred integrated health and social care services.

"We want to promote the benefits of partnership working and I am sure that this event has been very worthwhile for our Danish visitors."

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer of Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "We were very pleased to have been asked to share our learning with colleagues from Sonderborg. Colleagues from the Aberdeen Health and Social Care presented our vision for integration and gave examples of some of great work we're doing across the city – including a showing of our Golden Games film. We also learnt about how our Danish counterparts are working to improve services and health in their area. We share many opportunities and challenges and can learn a great deal from such exchanges."