Scotland named ‘four-star’ European reference site for innovation on healthy ageing

Healthy ageing - credit Dombrowski

Scotland has been named as an important European reference site for its work on finding innovative solutions for keeping an ageing population healthy.

These include digital solutions pioneered via NHS 24 and the Health and Social Care Alliance in Scotland.

In an attempt to share best practice 74 regional and local organisations across Europe have been awarded ‘reference site" status by the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), a project run by the European Commission.

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Scotland had previously been named a ‘three-star’ evaluation site twice, for the national telecare programme and the joint improvement team’s work on anticipatory care planning. This is its first ‘four-star’ recognition.

Alliance director Irene Oldfather said Scotland’s four star status was “great news”.

“We are delighted to be a part of the sharing of good practice across Europe, highlighting the importance of co-production and capturing the voice of older people, as well as sharing good practice on dementia. In the past the Alliance has hosted visits from practitioners from Barcelona and The Hague. These events have demonstrated the value of working across borders.”

Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of England were also named by the study, but is unclear how the partnership will continue as a result of the UK’s exit from the European Union.