COMMUNITIES AROUND MORAY will have an opportunity this month to learn about the role of the Community Planning Partnership and how it intends to work in towns and villages.
A series of events is being held by the body responsible for ensuring public agencies work together in local communities to plan and deliver better services. Seven meetings are being held beginning at Moray College UHI on Monday at 7pm.
The events will also provide an update on the development of the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership – a new partnership between NHS Grampian and the Moray Council that will operate under a new public body known as the ‘Moray Integrated Joint Board’ from April 2016.
The new board will have responsibility through its Chief Officer for the planning and delivery of health and social care across the area.
A raft of vital services will be integrated that will have an effect on health issues affecting every individual and family in the region. This will include services such as emergency care at Dr Gray’s, which will in future be planned and developed under the direction of the new body.
Councillor Allan Wright, Chairman of the Moray Community Planning Partnership said: “I thoroughly welcome this opportunity to take the working of the partnership to the community it serves.
“Those attending can see how the partnership works, examine our priorities, see how we implement those strategies and give their opinion on how we could do it better. The message here is that this is your partnership and it will only work with involvement from the community.”
Pam Gowans is the Chief Officer for the new board: “At some point we are all likely to need support with our health and wellbeing so we can live well and independently at home or close to home.
“As they age an increasing number of people in Moray are living with frailty and have complex needs or more than one health problem and turn to family, friends and their community along with health and social care services for advice, care and support.
“We also have a number of people who have come through life from childhood to adulthood with particular conditions and we need to provide the best support that enables them to reach their full potential regardless of condition.
“Making sure our services work seamlessly together will mean people get the personal support that’s right for them when and where they need it without confusion or delay.
“We also need to work with the public to develop a joint understanding of when it is right to access health and social care through traditional routes, and when indeed there may be better ways to get assistance in a different way within the community in which you reside.
“Integration is an opportunity to take forward the good work already happening locally and look for more innovative ways of working together so that we are co-ordinated, efficient and effective in delivering better outcomes for people.”
Dates for the seven meetings (all at 7pm) are:
Moray College UHI – Monday, November 9
Lossiemouth High School – Tuesday, November 10
Dufftown Memorial Hall – Wednesday, November 11
Buckie High School – Monday, November 16
Milne’s High School – Tuesday, November 17
Forres Academy – Wednesday, November 18
Keith Grammar School – Thursday, November 19