Allan welcomes elected health boards plan 26/6/08
Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today welcomed new Scottish Government proposals to allow a proportion of health boards to be directly elected by the public. This move comes as part of the Government's new proposals for a Health Board Bill.
Mr. Allan said: "I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, has announced this move towards elected health boards. Hopefully this will make the NHS in the Western Isles and elsewhere more accountable and responsive to the public and will re-energise public engagement with the health service.
“We have to make sure people are fully involved and do not feel shut out of decision making as they have in the past. By making health boards partially elected we will allow the public voice to be heard and listened to at the heart of the decision making process. This should ensure that, in future, decisions about local healthcare better reflect the views of those who use NHS services in these local areas.
“I am also pleased that this process will include as many users of the health service as possible and will see the vote extended to 16-year-olds. This is an important way of introducing young people to the democratic process as they reach adulthood, within a public service of which they will already have experience."
