Lochaber Ward Forum hit by bad weather is back on for June
The Lochaber Ward 22 Forum (Fort William and Ardnamurchan) will take place on Monday 27th June 2011 at 6.30pm in Ballachulish Village Hall. The Forum was due to meet in May but due to bad weather it had to be cancelled at short notice.
The two main agenda items are based on the withdrawal of the rural skip provision in Lochaber and the planned integration of some NHS and Highland Council services.
The Highland Council and NHS Highland are planning the integration of health, care and education services for children and adults. Having developed closer joint working over recent years, both agencies believe that it is possible to achieve even greater integration. They believe that this will further improve front line services, achieving better outcomes for the users of services, and they seek to consult with community groups about these plans.
The organisations believe that the proposals for integration will:
• reduce bureaucracy and making it easier for people to get the services they need;
• improve communication between the various staff involved with a person’s care;
• ensure front-line services are efficient and cost effective by removing duplication and gaps;
• make sense to the public and to service users, by having a single, lead organisation responsible for the management and organisation of services; and
• provide a clear framework for improved leadership and enhanced public accountability.
The proposed changes are significant because they:
• involve far reaching changes in organisational and management arrangements for the two largest employers in the Highland area.
• provide a means of achieving what politicians, professionals, clinicians and the public have been seeking for many years, in both children’s and adult services – reduced bureaucracy and a real joined up approach to service delivery.
• represent the most advanced plans in Scotland to achieve these aims.
• demonstrate the significant trust and effective working relationships that have been developed by care and health professionals across Highland Council and NHS Highland.
• will deliver real improvements in services and outcomes for the users of health and social care services in the Highlands.
The ward forums will provide an opportunity for members of the public to hear about and comment on these proposals. In particular, it will seek views on how individuals and community groups might have a stronger voice in the delivery of health and social care services that are delivered in a more integrated way.
Garry Coutts, Chairman of NHS Highland, said: “NHS Highland and The Highland Council appreciate that people want health and social care delivered in a straightforward way, with minimal bureaucracy. They want the services they need, delivered quickly and efficiently, and as local to where they live as possible. That is what we are seeking to do, through the integration of children’s and adult services, and we are keen to talk through the detail with local communities.”
Councillor Michael Foxley said: “When constituents want to raise an issue about health and social care, it does not really matter to them who funds that service, they just want it sorted. We are looking at new ways of delivering services, and as part of that, we intend to ensure improved local accountability. We want to put in place a local partnership forum where local managers, councillors and representatives of front line staff meet to discuss local issues and initiatives. This will feed in to the regional structures.
“Our key message is to improve and extend local team work for our elderly and children’s services. This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss and consider how that is best achieved.”
Also on the agenda is the issue of rural skips when it is hoped to address some of the concerns raised by members of the public over withdrawal of the rural skip service from Lochaber.
Northern Constabulary will also be present to give an update on community safety.
ENDS