Health care partnership to be launched in Shetland

A NEW forum that will help health and care professionals in Shetland to find out what the public wants is being launched early next month.

The Shetland’s Public Partnership Forum (PPF) will:

    *provide information to people about health and social care services;
    *consult people about how to improve health and social care services; and
    * involve people in the planning and decision-making of health and social care in the isles.

A group of volunteers who previously had been involved with NHS 100 has been working behind the scenes to set up the group. This also resulted in the election of Carol Johnson, from Yell, as the PPF’s chairperson and Barrie Jehu, from Quarff, as her deputy.

On Monday, 2 August, between 12noon and 3pm, the group will be launched officially at the Islesburgh Community Centre and hopes to attract as many people to participate as possible.

NHS Shetland chairman Ian Kinniburgh said that the isles’ PPF would be run by the public for the public and would be concerned with all aspects affecting the health and well being of people in Shetland.

“It is crucial that we are in touch with the local community and responding to their needs in ways that are most appropriate for our community. This will be particularly important through the challenging times that lie ahead.

“I would like to congratulate Carol and Barrie on being appointed as chair and vice-chair of the PPF. They are both well-known for their enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring that the views of the community are heard and respected in everything we do and I wish them well as they take up their new roles,” he said.

Scottish Health Council director Richard Norris added: “NHS boards need to listen and respond to the people using health services and our role is to assist this process and make sure that it is happening.

“Public partnership forums are giving communities across Scotland a chance to have a real say in the NHS and we look forward to supporting NHS Shetland and its new public partnership forum develop a constructive and healthy dialogue”

NHS Shetland said that the PPF would strive to involve individual members of the public, the voluntary sector, charitable organisations and community groups and will link closely with the local planning mechanisms.

Anyone interested in the PPF is invited to come along to the meeting on 2 August or to contact Laura Saunders, CHP Projects Manager, on 01595 744 355, e-mail: [email protected]