Introduction
Community Health Partnerships (CHPs) are relatively new organisations set up across Scotland to provide a wide range of community based health services delivered in homes, communities, health centres and clinics. They were formed to be part of a decentralised but integrated health and social care system to manage a wide range of services and have a pivotal role in delivering health improvements for their local communities.
Community Health Partnerships are responsible for:-
*Reducing waiting times for diagnosis, treatment and care
*Decreasing inappropriate hospital visits
*Reducing emergency admissions and delayed discharges
*Improving provision of chronic disease management
*Reducing premature and preventable deaths
*Improving access to services and reducing health inequalities
When first formed in April 2005 Edinburgh was serviced by two CHPs, one for the North and the other, the South of the City. They were dismantled and on the 15th April 2007 the Edinburgh Community Health Partnership, covering the whole of Edinburgh and matching the City of Edinburgh's Council boundaries, was formed. This CHP works closely with the City of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Department.
Community Health Partnership Committees are required to have a number of specified members. These include; a Voluntary Sector Member, a Carers Representative and members from Public Partnership Forums The Voluntary Sector member on the Edinburgh Committee can be contacted via the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations' Council at 0131- 555 9100 or enquire@evoc.org.uk
Community Health Partnerships
