Dear Colleague

1. The annex to this letter reflects our joint views on the importance of offering a number of free or subsidised places to those who require care in the community and their carers, at conferences and seminars on issues of relevance to continuing care and care in the community. The annex also encourages organisers and sponsors to explore ways in which reasonable associated travel costs can be provided.

3. Health Boards and local authorities are invited to take account of the attached document when involved in organising such conferences themselves; and to draw it to the attention of others organising or financing continuing care and care in the community conferences or related events.

Yours sincerely

_______________________

1. There are those who cannot afford to meet the full costs of attending seminars and conferences organised by or for health boards and local authorities on matters of interest to those who require care in the community and their carers. Some but not all events already offer a number of free places.

2. The Framework for Mental Health Services which was issued in 1997 set the example of best practice, with the emphasis properly placed on involving users and carers in the planning and development of mental health services, to help ensure the effective implementation of policy at local and national level. The White Paper Designed to Care followed with the message of co-operation and collaboration, and encouraged the increased involvement of those who use health services and those who provide care. This inclusive approach has been reaffirmed in Modernising Community Care: An Action Plan and the White Paper Aiming for Excellence: Modernising Social Work Services in Scotland. The Learning Disability Review taking place this year is holding a series of national conferences and a number of sponsored places at each event will be reserved for users and carers. The review members include users and carers, and they will be deciding how further consultation with users and carers takes place during the course of the review.

3. Those who use health services and those who care for them, have a unique perspective to offer conferences and events, and should be involved as part of the planning and development of services with which they have first hand knowledge. For their voice to be heard, they should be given every encouragement and opportunity to attend and participate at set piece events. Those responsible for organising conferences and events should routinely consider how to do this.

4. There are many ways in which free or subsidised places can be made available; for example through sponsorship; or setting fees for others at a level which allows a cross subsidy to cover the costs of free places. It is for organisers to determine how best to provide a number of free or reduced cost places in each case.

5. Organisers are also encouraged to consider what contribution can be made towards the reasonable associated travel costs incurred by those offered the free or subsidised places.