- I believe that the NHS is a really important service; the universal availability of health services is a really crucial principle and one I believe it is worth getting behind. NHS Fife, in common with Health Boards around the country, will face significant challenges over the next five to ten years, and I believe it's going to take creative thinking and engagement to tackle these challenges. Health Boards can't do this on their own; they need support and buy-in from communities and ordinary people who can bring different perspecives and new ways of thinking
- I'd like to see issues around community health facilities getting as much attention as issues around hospitals. For example, I support the relocation of the Cannons GP practice from its existing location in Fisher Street in Methil to Methil Business Park. The practice has outgrown its current home, which is an old building not really suited to modern health care, and patients would greatly benefit from a new, purpose-built centre. However, the Council has stated that there are planning issues with the proposed relocation. It is difficult to understand this when there are are already a number of community facilities in the area of the proposed new practice - I believe Councillors and Officers need to listen to the views of local people on this, surely Planning regulations should been seen as tools not the last word in matters of appropriate land use?
- Health Boards have become much more aware of the challenges that face certain groups in the population when trying to access health services, but there is still more to be done. For example, people dealing with mental illness, learning disability, sensory loss or impairment, long-term conditions and people from minority communities don't always find it possible to voice their concerns and make their views known and their general health & wellbeing can suffer as a result. I'd like to support the development of more person-centred services and approaches which allow everyone to take more control over their own health & wellbeing
- The actions NHS Fife has taken to improve access to dental services over the past few years have been really encouraging - Leslie, Cupar, Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline are now all benefitting from new Community Dental Clinics and Methil and Glenrothes will join this list next year. I believe it's important that the availability of dental services continues to be monitored so that everyone in Fife can enjoy good dental health
- I get concerned that the media works against the NHS at times by creating concerns about important public health measures such as vaccinations, which have been central to improving overall population health and have more or less eradicated certain illnesses. While I think it is important that health professionals listen to patients, I also believe that it should be a two-way relationship and the evidence-based training that medical staff receive deserves our respect
- I'm also aware of the demographic shifts that will have a big impact on health and social care services in the coming years. The proportion of Fife's population aged 80 and over is going to grow significantly, and since age is a major risk factor for dementia then it's important that we're thinking now about how health services can meet the needs of people with dementia and their carers. It's also important that we use the information we have about how the risk of developing dementia can be lessened and encourage and support people to remain active in later life, both physically and mentally.
If I am elected (with 60-odd candidates standing there's a lot of competition!) I'll keep this Blog going so people can see what work I'm involved in and give anyone who wants to get in touch the chance to do so.
