A new agreement has been confirmed to transform social care in Lanarkshire.
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has granted university status to the area's two Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs).
Leaders from all organisations met at the university to mark the recognition - and their ambitions for partnership working.
They included Professors Soumen Sengupta and Ross McGuffie, respective Chief Officers of the newly-named South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership and University Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire.
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ehsan Mesbahi and Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences Professor Anita Simmers represented GCU.
Professor Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, was joined by North Lanarkshire Council Chief Executive Des Murray and South Lanarkshire Council’s Depute Chief Executive Paul Manning.
A joint statement from all leaders read: “The granting of this auspicious status highlights the contribution and opportunities for community health and social care as engine rooms for education, training, research and innovation.
“Our organisations share common values and a commitment to the common good – and we see our ambitions for delivering that exemplified by the newly-named South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership and University Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire.
“By enhancing and extending our work together we aim to develop sustainable, innovative and practical solutions to health and social care challenges that will directly benefit our communities and our workforce for years to come.
“This also signifies all of our organisations' commitments to transforming lives within Lanarkshire and leading innovation in health and care for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.”
The statement added: “The significant challenges faced by all public services are well-publicised and pronounced. There are, however, also potential opportunities for improvement if public sector bodies have the vision and the boldness to work together differently.
“The actions of local government, NHS organisations and universities today will have a significant impact for community wellbeing tomorrow.”
As part of the agreement, GCU also renewed its strategic partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and signed Memorandums of Understanding with both Councils - consolidating the formal, multi-agency collaboration.
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