COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Kelly, delivered the keynote address at the 'Scotland Policy Conference: Next Steps for the Health and Social Care System' on 18th May.
Chaired by Christine Jardine MP, over 70 representatives joined online to discuss how to address ongoing challenges affecting the system and deliver upon the vision for strategic reform. This follows the publication of joint Population Health and Service Renewal Frameworks, which together set out action to tackle the underlying determinants of health inequalities, while moving care closer to the communities they serve.
Cllr Kelly discussed the pivotal role of Local Government in turning health and social care reform into reality: delivering local, preventative services, which help people to stay well, alongside joined-up care that supports people to live independently for longer.
Cllr Kelly also joined a panel with representatives from pharmacy, nursing and palliative care, emphasising the need to move away from the current system which driven by responding to crisis, to one which prevents issues before they arise, and backed by sustainable investment.
Read Cllr Kelly's speech here.
22nd May 2026
