This blog reflects on the Scottish and Norwegian approaches to improving public services for people with mental health issues and addictions.
Authors: Dr Ailsa Cook from Outcome Focus, Dr Guro Huby from University College Østfold and Dr Sarah Morton from What Works Scotland
Date: 9 September 2015
Norwegian managers and user representatives committed to better services in their area travelled to Scotland with academic colleagues to find out more about Scottish approaches to improving public services and the What Works Scotland approach to collaborative action research (CAR). A joint seminar was held on 27 May 2015.
Norway and Scotland share many similarities—both small nations, with a mix of rural and urban populations and demographic challenges driving the need for change away from acute hospital care towards preventative, community care. Both nations have boundaries between health and social services, and a long history of policy around partnership working.
In addition, policy is recently formulated by legislation that drives forward improved co-operation between sectors.