Winter Preparedness Plan Drafting Process: FOI release

Information requested

1. What personnel were involved in the drafting of the Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25?

2. What was the timeline for the drafting of the Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25?

3. What stakeholders did the Scottish Government consult with in the process of drawing up this plan?

4. Copies of all communications to and from the Cabinet Secretary for Health regarding the Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25 from 8 February 2024 to present, including any briefings provided.

Response

In relation to section 1 of your request:

The Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25 takes a comprehensive whole system approach in responding to a surge in demand for health and social care services over the winter period. The Scottish Government personnel involved in the drafting of this year’s plan is reflective of this and include policy area representatives across the entire DG Health and Social Care portfolio.

In relation to section 2 of your request:

Drafting of the Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25, began in early May 2024 after the winter 2023 reporting period ended. The Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25 was finalised in early September ahead of publication on 24 September 2024, a month ahead of last year and earlier than ever before to allow more time for whole system preparedness ahead of winter.

In relation to section 3 of your request:

The Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25 was produced in partnership with COSLA and sets out key priorities and actions that have been aligned across policy areas and local systems to ensure that people in Scotland receive safe and timely access to health and social care services and support over winter. As part of drafting this year’s plan, we reached out to a wide variety of external stakeholders across the whole system, with the following list of stakeholders being those of whom directly engaged on the plan:

• Care Inspectorate
• Social Work Scotland
• Scottish Care
• British Association of Social Workers
• Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS)
• IRISS
• Carer Scotland
• Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
• Red Cross
• Carers Trust
• Coalition of Carers in Scotland
• Shared Care Scotland
• Inclusion Scotland
• Glasgow Disability Alliance
• Disability Equality Scotland
• Self-Directed Support Scotland
• NHS Board Chief Executives
• NHS Directors of Planning
• Integration Joint Board Chief Officers
• Council of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

In relation to section 4 of your request:

Please find attached as part of this response, six documents that reflect communications to and from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care regarding the Winter Preparedness Plan 2024-25.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested. Exemptions under section 38(1)(b) and section 30(b)(ii) of FOISA apply to some of the information requested, as it relates to personal data of a third party or to the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation respectively.

The Section 30(b)(ii) exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release as part of being an open and transparent government. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in allowing ministers and policy stakeholders reasonable space to provide free and frank advice and feedback on the winter preparedness plan 2024-25 and associated briefings, and that the published winter plan and ministerial statement delivered by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care as part of the plan’s publication, takes this feedback into account and is also accessible in the public domain.

Winter Planning takes a comprehensive whole system approach in responding to a surge in demand for health and social care services, to ensure that people in Scotland receive safe and timely access to health and social care services and support over winter.

The Health and social care: winter preparedness plan 2024 to 2025, which was published on the Scottish Government website on 24 September 2024, is produced annually in partnership with COSLA and sets out key priorities and actions that have been aligned across policy areas and local systems to provide assurances of system readiness, whilst also addressing the challenges brought about during surges in demand for essential health and social care services.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400436893 - Information Released - Annex

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