Perth & Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership is responsible for the delivery of social care and community based health services for all adults in Perth & Kinross.

Everyone has the right to live a long and healthy life and to be supported to live at home when it is safe to do so. We believe that the growing numbers of people with complex needs or are growing older will require better joined up care, better anticipatory and preventative care which has a greater emphasis on community based care. We know that people want to have care and support delivered to them in or as near to their own homes and communities as possible.

We want to improve outcomes and ensure that people get the health and care services in local communities, empowering people to have greater control over their lives and managing their own health and care where appropriate.

Perth & Kinross has a population of around 150,000 of which 23% of the total population are aged 65 and over. Over the next seven years the population of Perth & Kinross is expected to grow by 4.5%, well above the Scottish average of 3.3%. However the proportion of that population who are aged over 75 years is expected to grow by a further 33% (more than 5,900 people over 75) to nearly 22,000 people. It is clear, therefore, that many thousands of people in Perth & Kinross could benefit from “starting the conversation” about power of attorney now with their loved-ones, to ensure their wishes are respected if they find they can no longer make welfare or financial decisions for themselves.

Making plans when you’re healthy means there is less to think about if you get sick. It is never too soon to think about what you would like to happen if you become ill, or if your illness gets worse. There are certain practical steps that everyone should take when thinking about planning for the future and arranging a Power of Attorney is one of these. Planning ahead in this way will make the financial, legal and practical consequences of illness for families much easier to deal with. Start your conversation today!

Improving health, wellbeing and independence is a strategic priority for Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership. As part of our ambition for people to take more responsibility for their own health and care we are committed to ensuring that everyone who requires to have an anticipatory care plan will have one.

Both Perth Royal Infirmary and Murray Royal Hospital have regular pop up stands to promote Power of Attorney. Power of Attorney is actively discussed with patients and carers and where this has not been considered patients and carers are supported to obtain the appropriate information to meet their needs in order to make an informed decision.

We are encouraging teams to consider Anticipatory Care Planning as part of the patient’s journey whether at home or whilst preparing for discharge from hospital. Our health and social care teams play a fundamental role in discussing this with patients and carers and supporting patients to identify how they wish to be cared for in the future should their needs increase or circumstances change.