Far north care forum launched
The Caithness District Partnership met for the first time as part of arrangements under the recently established tie-up between NHS Highland and the Highland Council.
The new partnership, which includes representatives from both bodies as well as voluntary and independent providers and community representatives, aims to deliver solutions for people in the far north within the health and social care framework.
The first meeting took place at the Pulteneytown People’s Project Community Centre where members outlined how business will be conducted.
It is the second of nine similar initiatives earmarked for the Highlands.
Highland Council’s corporate manager William Gilfillan said that the intention of the partnership is focused on not getting bogged down in red tape and looking to move issues forward quickly.
“Anybody who has issues regarding the provision of adult and child services now has a place to take them where their concerns will be taken on board,” he said.
“These issues will be taken away and dealt with over a period of two to three months and, when we come back for the next meeting, hopefully they will be sorted.”
Former North Highland Community Health Partnership chairman Colin Punler was elected as chairman, in his absence.
The meetings will be held four times a year and people will be invited to sit in the audience but will not be allowed to participate in discussions.
Acting chairman Okain Mclennan said he saw the partnership as an opportunity to do what they failed to achieve in the past and make a real difference to adult and child services in the region.
“Previously we had not worked as well together as we should have been doing or meet on a common ground,” he said.
“The partnership will work together on a common theme of delivering the right services for the right people.
“By working together, I believe it is a step in the right direction, we are not here to ask why problems have arisen but we are here to identify problems and make them work.”
The next meeting is scheduled for September 28 in the community centre.
