Highland health under spotlight at care event
PATIENTS, carers and staff with the Highlands’ biggest employer will share personal experiences of health care when they get together next month.
The region’s biggest employer, NHS Highland, is staging the “Putting Quality First” event to throw the spotlight on how care and services are delivered.
The September 5 event will be open to the public and webcast, though spaces must be reserved in advance for anyone wanting to attend.
NHS Highland chairman Garry Coutts explained: ““We do face some tough times ahead but there are also huge opportunities. We are already leading the way in Scotland through our approach to integrating adult health and social care, Scottish Patient Safety Programme and Anticipatory Care Planning.
“We also we also know that sometimes it is the little things that can make such a difference.”
Health journalist, Pennie Taylor, will act as a “facilitator” at the Eden Court event which takes place throughout the day on Wednesday, September 5.
The morning session will give those attending an opportunity to hear from patients, carers and staff reflecting on their personal experiences of care and services in Highland.
There will be also contributions from a range of influential local and national speakers sharing some of the work that Highland is leading the way in.
On show throughout the day there will be various displays including award winning work from NHS Highland staff, work by local GPs on the Dewar Report and various charities and local groups.
In the afternoon NHS Highland’s performance and progress towards the delivery of national targets and standards will be reviewed.
This will chaired by Pennie Taylor and after a series of short presentations will take the format of Question Time format, with the audience actively encouraged to participate.
Elaine Mead, NHS Highland’s chief executive, said: “We are really keen to get as much public interest and participation as possible. This is an opportunity for members of the public, our staff, partners and service users to come together.
“We are the biggest employer in Highland and with a budget of around £700million it’s very important we take opportunities like this to share our thinking, review performance and get feed-back.”
For those unable to attend in person but interested in following the event, a live web cast will be available. This can be accessed on the day by the following link: http://www.invernesstv.net/nhs-review2012.html
