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Articles: North Clyde Group |
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North Clyde Group Feb 06 Report
The North Clyde Group consisted of five individuals with extensive experience of NHS governance whose sole interest in the future organisation and management of the NHS was as local residents and patients (see footnote for details of members).
In 2003 the Group was formed because of concern over changes proposed by NHS Argyll and Clyde. The Group consulted widely amongst the local population and after much discussion came to the conclusion that geographically, demographically, and in terms of NHS reforms, the best possible patient care for our population would be promoted if it were to be designed and provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and if direct and normal access to secondary health care services were to be provided in Glasgow. A Petition to that end was prepared by the Group, signed by over 200 local residents and presented to the Scottish Parliament on 21st April 2004.
Members of the Group presented their case to the Petitions Committee and the MSPs agreed to seek responses from the Minister (then Malcolm Chisholm) and from NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow. The North Clyde Group returned to the Petitions Committee in October 2004 to hear these responses and the Committee determined to keep the Petition open.
The Petition was instrumental in triggering public awareness of the performance of NHS Argyll and Clyde and individuals from the North Clyde Group played key roles in public meetings in Dumbarton and Helensburgh which exposed the weaknesses of Executive and Senior Management. The North Clyde Group was high profile and supported by the Community in their challenges to NHS Argyll and Clyde. Over the winter of 2004 and into the Spring of 2005 the health debate in the Vale area gathered momentum and the North Clyde Group continued to pursue the thrust of their petition through local and national press and media coverage.
Following on from the Minister’s announcement in May of 2005 that he intended to dissolve NHS Argyll and Clyde, the North Clyde Group engaged vigorously in the consultation process. The North Clyde Group met several times to study and discuss the options and consulted widely. The Group took the opportunity to present their views personally to the consultation personnel and listened in person to the views expressed by local General Practitioners. Members attended several meetings at which public and political views were expressed. The North Clyde Group submitted a detailed and informed response to the consultation, recommending that the Minister for Health and Community Care adopts Option 2 (which moved Helensburgh and District into Greater Glasgow along with Dumbarton and the Vale) as this will “support the development of integrated, decentralised healthcare services that meet the needs of individual patients and local communities” (Partnership for Care, Scotland’s Health White Paper).
The Minister’s decision to implement Option 1 which preserved the alignment of Local Authority and Health Board boundaries occasioned considerable surprise and incredulity in the community. This incredulity has survived assurances that secondary care services will be purchased on our behalf from NHS Greater Glasgow by NHS Highland. The possible relevance of NHS Highland, in terms of experience and expertise, to western Argyll is evident. However, no such relevance arises in Helensburgh and District which is part urban, part rural and is on the fringe of Scotland’s largest urban conglomeration.
The North Clyde Group met on the 8th March 2005, the same day that our Petition returned to the Petitions Committee and was formally closed given the dissolution of NHS Argyll and Clyde. The North Clyde Group considered that it had achieved considerable success as a Group in its contribution to the demise of NHS Argyll and Clyde and awareness raising of the north of the river factor, but members were disappointed at the outcome of the consultation with Helensburgh and District being part of NHS Highland from April Fool’s Day.
The North Clyde Group considered that it had completed the task it undertook on behalf of local residents and patients and success of a kind had been achieved. The Group therefore determined to disband with effect from the 8th March 2005.
Vivien Dance.
Chairman, North Clyde Group.
Members of the North Clyde Group and The Principal Petitioners were:
Mrs. Vivien Dance (Chair Lomond Healthcare and Lomond and Argyll Primary Care NHS Trusts 1998-2003 and member Argyll and Clyde Health Board 1997 – 2003).
Mr. David Bruce (Convenor Lomond LHCC Patients Group, and other NHS involvement).
Mrs. Eileen Gorie (Member Lomond Healthcare and Lomond and Argyll Primary Care NHS Trusts 1995-2003).
Mrs. Leila McKichan (Member Health Council 1982-87, Member Argyll and Clyde Health Board 1987-91, Chair/Member ACHB Ethics Committee 1997-2003).
Mr. David Morrell (Deputy Chair and Chair Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust 1995-99, Member Argyll and Clyde Health Board 1999-2002).
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