Social Work Department
SEHD is responsible both for NHSScotland and for the development and implementation of health and community care policy.
The Chief Executive of NHSScotland leads the central management of the NHS, is accountable to ministers for the efficiency and performance of the service, and heads the Health Department which oversees the work of 15 area health boards responsible for planning health services for people in their area, and 24 self-governing NHS Trusts.
SEHD also has responsibility for:
- The Scottish Ambulance Service
- NHS 24 which provides 24-hour telephone access to medical advice from clinical professionals
- the State Hospital at Carstairs which cares for patients who require treatment under conditions of special security
- NHS Health Scotland which promotes positive attitudes to health and encourages healthy lifestyles
- NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, which sets and monitors clinical standards
The Department is also responsible for social work policy and in particular for community care and voluntary issues.
In 2002, the NHS in Scotland had around 143,000 staff, including more than 63,000 nurses, midwives and health visitors and over 3,300 consultants. There are also more than 13,000 doctors, family practitioners and allied health professionals, including dentisits, opticians and community pharmacists, who are independent contractors providing a range of services within the NHS in return for various fees and allowances.
The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland
Contact (Tel. No): 0131 556 8400 or 08457 741741 (UK local rate)
Contact (Fax No): 0131 244 2162
Contact (E-mail): ceu@scotland.gov.uk
Contact (Post):
Health Department
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
EDINBURGH
EH1 3DG
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