East Renfrewshire HSCP Sets Out Bold Plans to Transform Local Care Services
Changes include shifting support closer to home, embracing innovation, and investing in long-term partnerships to meet the needs of a changing population.
With more people living longer and needing more complex care, East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) is stepping up to redesign how care is delivered—making sure services stay high-quality, sustainable, and focused on what matters most to residents.
At the latest Integration Joint Board (IJB) meeting on Wednesday 24 September, Chief Officer Alexis Chappell—who joined the HSCP in May with over 30 years' experience in health and care—presented two major reports: Shifting the Balance of Care to Community and Care at Home Redesign.
One of the most exciting developments is a new commissioning model for Care at Home services. Local care providers will be offered 10-year contracts, giving them the long-term stability to invest in their staff, improve services, and support the local economy.
"We're building a more sustainable, person-centred system that works for the future," said Councillor Katie Pragnell, Chair of the IJB. "People and their outcomes remain our absolute priority.
We'll co-produce these plans with residents, staff and partners. We know change can be unsettling, but we're confident this will lead to better outcomes and help people feel safer in the comfort of their own homes."
At the heart of this transformation is a commitment to whole-system integration—bringing together health and social care to deliver support closer to home, reduce unnecessary hospital stays, and help people live healthier, more independent lives in their communities.
The HSCP has identified eight key actions to shift the balance of care, including:
- Telehealth and Digital Solutions - Remote consultations, digital monitoring, and assistive technologies to help people manage their health from home.
- Virtual Beds / Hospital at Home - Providing hospital-level care in people's homes or care homes, supporting faster recovery in familiar surroundings.
These ambitious plans align with A Place to Grow—East Renfrewshire's vision to be a place where everyone can flourish—and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Listening, Learning and Transforming Together strategy, which focuses on improving community-based care and ensuring smoother transitions when hospital care is needed.
Stay tuned for more updates as East Renfrewshire HSCP continues to shape a future where care is closer to home, more personalised, and built around the needs of our residents.
