Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Response to Scotland’s Public Service Reform Strategy 

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) has welcomed the publication of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Reform Strategy.  

Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive of CHSS, said: “Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) welcomes the publication of Scotland’s Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland. We are positive about the direction outlined in this document, particularly its recognition of the essential role the third sector plays in delivering local and national key services, including health and social care. 

“We are encouraged by the strategy’s call for greater integration across sectors. For too long, the third sector has been underutilised in the strategic design and planning of services. This strategy acknowledges that the third sector must be a core partner in shaping Scotland’s public services – something CHSS and others have long advocated for. 

“The emphasis on preventative spending is another welcomed step. Investing in prevention is not only more cost-effective in the long term, but it also leads to better outcomes for people living with long-term conditions. CHSS is well-placed and ready to support this agenda through our established prevention work in communities across Scotland. Our approach spans primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention – working hard to maximise impact, improve lives, and reduce pressure on health and social care services. 

“While the vision is promising, the real test lies in its implementation. Integration must go beyond policy ambition. It requires meaningful and prioritised investment, structural and cultural reform, and a genuine shift in how public services value and collaborate with third sector organisations. Only through true partnership-working will these ambitions be realised. 

“We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that the commitments made in this strategy are translated into action. The third sector must be fully respected and included to help deliver a more person-centred, preventative, and equitable public service landscape.”