This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Chair of new Scottish Health Council appointed
03/10/2004
Brian Beacomhas been appointed as the first chair of the
new Scottish Health Council.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Mr Beacom is an individual with great energy and
enthusiasm who brings a strong local health council
background and who has demonstrated a clear commitment to
putting patients and the public at the heart of NHS
Scotland."
"This marks the start of a new era in the NHS where
patients and the public will have a much stronger and
powerful voice in how services are planned and run.
"It is what we promised in last year's White Paper
Partnership for Care and it is what we are now delivering.
This is the culmination of two years work on this
issue."
The changes include:
· Specific duties which came into force this week
on NHS Boards in the NHS Reform Act to involve the public
and to promote equal opportunities.
· Key health target in this week's Scottish
Budget for boards to improve patient and public involvement
in developing services
· Patients represented for the first time at
national level through the Scottish Health Council. It will
scrutinise how effective consultations are in involving the
public and report to Ministers.
· Strong local input to the Council through a
network of local advisory councils in all 15 health board
areas.
Mr Chisholm said:
"These are very important developments. As NHS Boards
are required to seek solutions together, regardless of
boundaries, it is important that the Scottish Health
Council can also take and express a regional or national
view.
"We want a Health Service that puts the patient at the
centre - not just the needs of the patient, but their
wishes, preferences, and their experiences.
"An NHS with patients at its heart, which involves them
in decisions both about their own care and about the
redesign and improvement of the services they use.
"We need to ensure that the NHS involves and engages the
public and communities in defining and developing the
choices and options that exist, and in reaching
decisions.
"It is not enough just to consult people on a set of
options that have been developed by managers and
professionals, still less to present a single solution for
consultation and comment.
"Real involvement and engagement means bringing the
public into the processes of change and development from
the start.
"We need to engage them in development of specific
options and in discussions and debate around these options,
taking account of their views in defining choices
available.
"We need to see a health service where it is the norm
for patients, carers and professionals to share
information, and to be involved together in decisions about
care and treatment."
Mr Beacom said:
"I am delighted to take on this new and challenging
role. A watchdog barks after the event. There is much scope
to improve public and patient involvement in decision
making within the NHS.
"It is vital that we listen, explain and involve people.
If something is not right, the Council will not be afraid
to say so and say so loudly."
Brian Beacom, MBE is currently the manager of North
Glasgow Community Health Project. He served as a member of
Greater Glasgow Health Council from 1993 until Dec 2001.
From 1996 to 1999, he served as Convenor, and represented
the Health Council, at Greater Glasgow Health Board
meetings. He has over 35 years experience of working in the
community on a voluntary basis and is Vice Chairman of
Levern Community Council and Chairman of the Priesthill
Barratt Community Development Trust, in a voluntary
capacity. Mr Beacom currently holds a Ministerial
appointment as a Non-Executive Director on the State
Hospital Board for Scotland and Northern Ireland, for which
he receives an annual remuneration of £7,180
Mr Beacom's appointment will be for four years. It is
expected that the Board Chair will contribute around three
days per week for which the annual renumeration is
£21,480
Although the Scottish Health Council is not regulated by
the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments
(OCPA), this appointment has mirrored the terms of the Code
of Practice laid down by OCPA, as a means of best practice,
and to ensure a process of independent and open
assessment.
All appointments are made on merit and political
activity plays no part in the selection process. However,
in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations,
there is a requirement for appointees' political activity
(if any declared) to be made public. Mr Beacom has not been
involved in any political activity within the last five
years.
This release was published on 11/10/2004