This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Redrawing health board boundaries
09/08/2005
A three-month public
consultation
on options for redrawing the shape of boards due to the
decision to dissolve Argyll and Clyde Health Board was
announced today.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said that local communities
will have a strong voice in deciding how boundaries for
their health boards will change.
The consultation offers various options to re-draw the
boundaries of Greater Glasgow Health Board and of Highland
Health Board to provide a sound administrative basis for
delivering NHS services to the communities served by the
outgoing Board.
It is not a consultation about the future of specific
local services - nor is it about the role or future of
hospitals in the Argyll and Clyde area.
Ongoing clinical developments, hospital building
programmes and service redesigns in Highland and in Greater
Glasgow will not be delayed during this boundary
consultation.
Mr Kerr said:
"What matters most to me is ensuring safe, sustainable
healthcare services for patients.
"Redrawing the administrative boundaries of Greater
Glasgow and Highland NHS Boards will not affect patients'
existing day-to-day access to local and regional health
services. A patient's link to their GP will remain
unchanged and access to hospital services will still be
decided on the basis of their clinical need and treatment
provided as close to their home as possible.
"My aim is to ensure that everyone in the Argyll &
Clyde Health Board area can rely on top quality services,
safe in the knowledge that they are being provided on a
secure and sustainable basis. As everyone knows, the
financial deficit incurred by Argyll and Clyde was
threatening the sustainability of services.
"That is why I recently announced that the Executive was
providing the necessary funds to write off the deficit, and
at the same time was winding up the Board and redrawing the
boundaries of neighbouring boards. Today's consultation
sets out options for those new boundaries.
"I want to give residents and staff of Argyll and Clyde
and neighbouring health board areas a strong voice in this
consultation. I am particularly keen to hear local
residents' and communities' views.
"I will take account of all views expressed during this
consultation when I make my final decision on the revised
boundaries of the neighbouring boards in the autumn."
The Executive is being advised on the best approach to
the consultation by the Scottish Consumer Council and the
Consultation Institute.
The consultation will be advertised widely in the
relevant areas and information sessions will be held to
help ensure that interested parties are well informed on
the issues.
Today's announcement follows the Health Minister's
announcement in the Scottish Parliament on May 19 that
making a fresh start by dissolving the board and writing
off the financial deficit accumulated by the Board was the
only way of ensuring high quality, sustainable and
affordable services for residents in the Argyll and Clyde
area.
When the Minister has taken the decision on the best way
forward, there will need to be further consultation with
staff and on a draft Parliamentary order before Argyll and
Clyde can be dissolved. It is anticipated that any changes
would take place at the end of the financial year.
The draft consultation document can be found on the
Scottish Executive website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/0992342/23436.
General inquiries freephone: 0800 917
0343.