Afternoon, Monday, 18th May 2026
Online
This conference will focus on next steps for health and social care reform in Scotland, following recent policy developments and publication of Audit Scotland’s NHS in Scotland 2025 report.
System sustainability
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss key considerations for implementation of the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework, the Population Health Framework, and the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Delegates will assess how these frameworks can best support system sustainability, alongside questions around coordination across national and local levels, and approaches to tackling health inequalities, in the context of ongoing operational and financial pressures highlighted by Audit Scotland.
National Social Work Agency
Attendees will discuss priorities for the establishment of the National Social Work Agency as it moves towards expected operation in spring 2026, and for its role in workforce oversight and standards.
Supporting social workers & unpaid carers
Further sessions will assess the rollout of measures under the Care Reform (Scotland) Act, including Anne’s Law and enhanced rights and supports for social care workers and unpaid carers.
Delegates will consider how these provisions align with broader ambitions for social care reform, expectations for non-statutory coordination mechanisms, following the decision to move away from major structural reorganisation, and scope for further progress in addressing workforce challenges and ensuring sustainable funding.
Next steps for social care and integration following the £2.3bn funding and support for workers announced in the Budget will be discussed.
Governance
We also expect discussion on strategies for supporting alignment between the Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework, embedding prevention and person-centred approaches across the system, strengthening governance and accountability for reform delivery, and addressing financial viability concerns - including the impact of wider fiscal pressures on health and social care providers.
Overview of areas for discussion:
- renewal and reform:
- assessing priorities for reform - strategic needs to meet demand - current performance of NHS Scotland - operational issues and challenges in the current system
- assessing the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 - findings from the NHS in Scotland 2025 report
- practical steps for improvement:
- progress of the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan 2025-2026 - expectations for a national delivery organisation - increasing productivity and efficiency
- addressing capacity challenges - workforce and skills development - infrastructure needs - future hospitals plan options and delivery - investment and financial priorities - NHS estate improvement
- next steps for social care:
- implementation of the Care Reform (Scotland) Act - new rights and support for unpaid carers - changes to advocacy and information access
- role of the new National Chief Social Work Advisor - expectations for a National Social Work Agency - work of the Interim Advisory Board
- alignment with the Feeley review - scope and potential for further reform
- collaboration and coordination in the new system:
- national, sub-national, and local working relationships - assessing the Service Renewal Framework, the Population Health Framework and immediate delivery priorities - planning priorities
- priorities for NHS boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and Community Planning Partnerships - NHS Boards funding - local business and community involvement - expectations for delivery bodies
- the future of combined health and social care in Scotland:
- shared long-term priorities - delivery of people-led care - addressing health inequalities across regions - approaches to increasing capacity - embedding a prevention-focused approach
- innovation and collaboration with life sciences and digital transformation - strategic priorities and approaches for maintaining service quality and access
