NHS Research Scotland health and social care expert set to present on key priorities at conference this week
NHS Research Scotland’s Health and Social Care Research Coordinator will be speaking at an online conference on Monday afternoon (18 May) to encourage discussion around key national priorities
Irina McLean works within the NHS Research Scotland Central Management Team (NRS-CMT), focusing on social care research governance and supporting the ENRICH Scotland network.
She is speaking at an online Scotland Policy Conference, entitled ‘Next steps for the health and social care system in Scotland’, taking place from 1-5pm.
The event will focus on the future for health and social care reform in Scotland, bringing stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss implementation of the Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework and the Population Health Framework.
Organisers of the online conference say that “with the proposed move away from a hospital-focused model, sessions will explore practicalities and strategic approaches to increasing community capacity, addressing challenges facing primary care, redesigning hospitals, and ensuring quality of care”.
Irina is one of four speakers presenting a session on ‘Priorities for renewal and practicalities for system integration’ starting at 3.45pm.
This segment will touch on themes including:
- Empowerment of NHS boards and integration authorities
- Roles of local authorities, the third sector and independent providers
- Tackling regional health inequalities
- Workforce and infrastructure requirements
- Incorporating lived experience into planning and delivery
Irina said: “I believe it is important that we have a voice at events like these in order to help inform ambitions for national change.
“Ethical considerations continue to be particularly crucial when conducting research with vulnerable or marginalised populations if we are to achieve the quality of care that Scotland needs.
“Discussions around priority research themes are therefore key to building a stronger evidence base for social care.”
Immediate focus areas for tackling health inequalities across regions will be examined by the conference, including requirements for infrastructure and the workforce, options for re-design, approaches to enabling functional workforce support, and effective frameworks for incorporating lived experience voices in policy and future planning.
Publication date: 18th May 2026
