Focus on Frailty programme 2026-2027

The Focus on Frailty programme supports teams to improve the quality of care for older people living with or at risk of frailty. This includes teams from:

• NHS boards
• health and social care partnerships
• general practice

This programme supports boards to meet their commitments in the Scottish Government operational improvement plan. It is aligned with the national Centre for Sustainable Delivery and the Discharge without Delay programme.

Teams should be willing to apply quality improvement methodology and work towards improving services by committing to delivering at least one of the following programme aims by March 2027:

• At least 10% of people aged over 65 will have a documented Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) assessment recorded in the relevant clinical system, and those identified as living with frailty will be included on a frailty register.
• At least 70% of older people with a Rockwood CFS score of 5 or above will have evidence of proactive support in community settings within the past year.
• Acute hospitals will increase discharges within 72 hours for people living with frailty by 10%, through early identification of frailty and initiation of comprehensive geriatric assessment.
• Sites will have improved admission avoidance and hospital discharge pathways through integration between community and acute teams.

Further details on the aims and recommended interventions, aligned to each aim, are available on the programme aims and interventions page.

Applications to join the Focus on Frailty programme are open until close of play 13 March 2026. Visit the Get involved web page to apply.

Email us at his.frailty@nhs.scot if you would like to speak to a member of the team.