Health / Public encouraged to give feedback on future of health and social care
THE COMMUNITY is being encouraged to take part in consultation on two documents relating to how health and social care services are delivered in Shetland.
The consultation on the Integration Scheme and the IJB Joint Strategic Commissioning Plan closes on 15 November.
Virtual workshops are also being held on 9 November, between 10am and midday, and 10 November from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
The Integration Scheme, which sets out the arrangements for how services are planned, delivered and monitored, has to be consulted on every five years.
It last happened in 2015, just before Shetland’s integration joint board (IJB) was formally established.
The IJB brings together Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland to oversee health and social care in the isles.
The IJB Joint Strategic Commissioning Plan, meanwhile, describes how health and care can deliver services into the future which meet the needs of the Shetland population, and continue to be safe, effective and of high quality.
The plan describes how that will be achieved across the services within the integration scheme.
The documents have been shared with various groups and individuals for comment, but IJB chair councillor Emma Macdonald has invited the public to give their views.
“Our plan covers the period 2019-2022, so this is a good point to review it and make any necessary changes,” she said.
“One of our key challenges is to make sure our services are built around the needs of individuals, as well as their families and carers, and aren’t just designed to fit the requirements of the organisations involved.
“We need to hear people’s views to make sure we’re doing that as much as possible, and I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in the future of care in the islands to take this opportunity to let us know what they think.”
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The consultation documents can be found online.
Numbers on the virtual workshops are limited, so to book a place contact Lucy Flaws by email at lucy.flaws@nhs.scot or call 01595 807494.
Meanwhile, to learn more about other opportunities to shape the future of health and care in Shetland people can join the Shetland Public Engagement Network (SPEN) on Facebook, or by emailing shet-hb.montfieldreception@nhs.net.
People can also contact the local healthcare improvement Scotland community engagement office at his.engageshetland@nhs.scot to discuss opportunities to get involved with engagement work in Shetland.
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