A new body will be launched in Scotland, aimed at driving transformation across the health and care system and the wider public sector.
Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSD Scotland) will replace NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and will bring the strength of the two boards together.
The new organisation will focus on workforce planning and development, service infrastructure and innovation, particularly digital transformation. It will continue to deliver all existing NES and NSS services, as well as accelerating national programmes.
Professor Karen Reid, currently chief executive at NES, has been appointed chief executive at PSD Scotland.
She said: "It is a huge privilege to be appointed Chief Executive of Public Services Delivery Scotland as we embark on this transformative journey.
“By uniting expertise from NES and NSS, Public Services Delivery Scotland will empower our staff to deliver outstanding care and support, ensuring that services are both innovative and responsive to the needs of communities throughout Scotland.
“I'm truly excited to work collaboratively with our skilled and committed colleagues, both within the new organisation and beyond, to provide improved, high-quality health and social care services that are efficient, fair, and prepared for the future. Together, we will create a more sustainable, joined-up system that puts our people and communities at the heart of everything we do.”
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Establishing PSD Scotland is an important step in our journey towards transforming the health of the nation – supporting faster access and safer, more consistent services wherever people live.
“By bringing together national education, digital and support functions we will reduce duplication, scale what works, giving frontline teams more time with patients.
“This approach flows directly from our Service Renewal Framework and Population Health Framework, putting prevention, community based support and digital innovation at the heart of how care is delivered.”
