Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership calls on communities to help shape services
Communities are being called on to help shape local health and social care services for the coming years, in the face of reducing budgets and increasing complex need.
Dubbed The Strategy Road Show, numerous engagement events will take place across Aberdeenshire, with residents asked to give their views on the emerging areas that have been highlighted by health and social care data.
These views will contribute towards a much bigger picture known as the strategic plan, which provides the foundation as to how services provided by Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care and Partnership (AHSCP) will be shaped.
The current strategic plan comes to a close in 2025, meaning members of the public will be asked to think ahead and consider what services will look like for the following five to 10 years.
AHSCP is already responsible for a diverse range of services, including home care, criminal justice social work, primary care, community nursing, community mental health services, adult residential care, health visiting, occupational therapy and community hospitals.
The series of events will see open conversations take place with communities, surrounding the financial challenges faced by AHSCP and how services must then be shaped as a result.
Communities will also be able to find out what is currently on offer in their area and speak to staff about a wide range of topics, from mental health to older adult care.
Third sector organisations have come on board as part of the far reaching engagement exercise, and the events will include representation from Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action and VSA.
Overall wellbeing is also up for discussion, with a focus on how Aberdeenshire residents can take steps to look after themselves and remain independent.
Early intervention and prevention will play a key part as AHSCP navigates increasing demand on its services, the effects of which are already being felt.
Savings in the region of £12.5 million were identified at the start of the year, meaning there has since been changes across several services.
The Integration Joint Board (IJB) which oversees the work of the AHSCP, must balance its legal obligation to produce a balanced budget, while supporting some of Aberdeenshire’s most vulnerable residents.
This means services will continue to change, and AHSCP’s strategic plan must be both robust and realistic.
Chief officer at AHSCP, Pam Milliken, believes that by engaging with the public – the provision of healthcare can be informed by the very people in which it serves.
She said: “We have held engagement events before, but perhaps not quite on this scale.
“From Peterhead to Aboyne, we’re looking forward to meeting people at the heart of their local community in a bid to understand what they currently know about our services.
“This is an important opportunity to hear people’s views regarding our priorities as we look ahead to the future, because our services cannot stay the same.
“We must continue to adapt to an ageing demographic and the complexity of need which accompanies this.
“We want to hear from people as to what we do well and consider the best path forward in the face of immense challenges.”
Chairman of the IJB, John Tomlinson, is hopeful that the events will help people understand the many challenges faced by AHSCP.
He said: “We want to be very upfront when it comes to the immense financial pressure which health and social care partnerships are confronted with across Scotland.
“As is often the way, people may not be aware of our services until they come to need them – be that home care put in place for a loved one or an appointment at one of our community hospitals.
“We want to shine a light on what we currently offer and work together to identify what may change as we adapt to a reduced budget and the increased demands placed on our services.
“The pressures we are currently facing are not going to disappear, and we must act now if we are to support people in the future.”
Alongside the in-person engagement events, people are also being asked to answer a survey regarding AHSCP’S services.
For vice-chairwoman of the IJB, Councillor Anne Stirling, the results will help inform the decision-making process before a new strategic plan can be mapped out.
She said: “It is very clear that if we are to continue to support people who are most in need of care and support, we must change the way we deliver our services.
“We hope members of the public will take the opportunity to not only learn about AHSCP, but also get informed when it comes to taking care of their own health.
“It is by working together that we can move forward and create an informed strategic plan, that can best serve Aberdeenshire in the years to come.
To find out more, head to https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care-in-aberdeenshire
The details of the local events are:
Monday, September 30, St Andrews Church Hall, Turriff, 3pm-7pm.
Monday, October 7, Seafield House, Banff, 3pm-7pm.
Monday, October 28, Stewart’s Hall, Huntly, 3pm-7pm.
