This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New forum for older people
12/02/2002
A new consultative forum to give older people and their
organisations greater say in the development of Executive
policy was launched today.
Deputy Health Minister Hugh Henry announced details of
the membership and remit of this new Older People's
Consultative Forum, which will act as a 'sounding board'
for new policies and ensure input from older people at the
earliest possible stage in the policy development
process.
Speaking ahead of the first meeting of the Forum today,
Mr Henry said:
"The Forum will help ensure that older people are fully
involved - as early as possible - in the development and
creation of policies which affect them. It is not a
replacement for existing consultation but will help improve
our arrangements for engaging with older people and ensure
we meet the challenges of an ageing Scottish society.
"We have always endeavoured to seek the views of older
people and their organisations on a range of Scottish
Executive policies. For example the Care Development Group
held public meetings up and down the country to hear views
on the way forward for long term care. But until now we
have not had a formal vehicle for more on-going discussion
and debate.
"This Forum will give older people an opportunity to
make a long term contribution to policy formation, on not
one but a range of issues, and will give us a better
understanding of older people's needs, concerns and
priorities - and therefore enable us to respond better to
them."
Phyllis Herriot, Chair of the Scottish Pensioners'
Forum, said
"The Scottish Pensioners' Forum welcomes the formation
of the Older People's Consultative Forum and the concept of
the Scottish Executive working in partnership with older
people's organisations. The involvement in the development
of policies which affect them, should augur well for the
future of older people in Scotland"
The Older People's Consultative Forum will be chaired by
the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Hugh
Henry.
Membership will comprise of the following groups:
- Older People's Advisory Group - Scottish Pensioners'
Forum
- Scottish Pensions Association
- Black and Ethnic Minority Ethnic Elders Group
- Confederation of Scotland's Elderly
- West of Scotland Seniors' Forum
- STUC
- Age Concern
- Help the Aged
Other people will be co-opted from other organisations
as required for specific topics, or be invited to attend
specific meetings. It is envisaged that the Forum will meet
on an ad hoc basis, if required, but will meet at least
twice a year. The secretariat will be provided by the
Scottish Executive's Older People's Unit.
The forum aims to complement and improve the Executive's
existing methods of consulting and working with older
people - not to replace them.