NHS responds to ‘demographic time bomb”

AROUND 70 health professionals, councillors and representatives of the voluntary sector attended the first of three NHS Shetland scenario planning sessions last week.

The health board invited them to find a local response to what is widely described as the “demographic time bomb” threatening health and care services across the country.

Other pressures on the services are funding constraints, the difficulty to recruit staff and increased cost of medication and treatment.

Chief executive Ralph Roberts said that ultimately he would like to see an NHS that not just a “treatment service”, but one that promotes and improves people’s health.

He added: “To me it is the right time to look at how we can sustain the very high level of service that we currently provide and make sure that is fit for the future.

“The aim of the work is to look forward five or ten years to see what the health service could look like in the future.

“What I would like to get out of these discussions is a description of how we want the service to evolve.

“That would allow us to do two things, one to have a more a constructive discussion with community about what they feel about our services, and secondly, it will allow us to put into place plans to put a potential vision into reality.”

The next scenario planning session will be held at Montfield in Lerwick on 28 February.