Have your say on health blueprint

The Clinical Strategy is NHS Fife’s response to changing demographics, advances in medical science and the soaring cost of medicines. It details a sustainable model for health and social care designed to cope with the changing demands of the population and to ensure all the people of Fife enjoy the highest quality of care they have a right to expect.

NHS Fife’s Clinical Strategy covers every area of medicine and its development was led by a senior clinician in each of seven areas: Urgent Care; Scheduled care; Chronic Conditions and Frailty; Cancer, Palliative Care and Care in the Last days of Life; Women and Children’s Services; and Mental health and Disabilities as well as eHealth, Estates and Support Services. It is in line with the National Clinical Strategy and has been shaped over the last six months after extensive consultation and input from staff, patients and their carers, partner organisations and the general public.

Dr Frances Elliot, NHS Fife medical director, said: “In the future, people will be able to get the more of the care they need in their own homes or in community facilities closer to their homes. We’ll also aim to help people stay well for longer at home and access the right care as soon as possible to prevent health problems escalating”.

Paul Hawkins, NHS Fife chief executive, says the integration of health with social care services provided by Fife Council and other partners is key to the successful delivery of this new vision.

He said: “We are working with our social care partners to ensure services are joined-up and efficient and deliver the best experience for patients as well as value for money. This is a flexible, patient-centred model of care that can be tailored to the needs of individual and be adapted over time as those needs change. It is also designed to tackle health inequalities to ensure everyone gets first class care wherever they live and whenever they need it”.

Endorsing a vision for person centred care that is safe, sustainable, adaptable and efficient NHS Fife chairman Allan Burns added: “The picture of how we deliver care may be changing, but our commitment to clinical excellence and patient safety is not. We are proud to present the Clinical Strategy and urge the people of Fife to take part in the public consultation on its proposals.

To have your say, visit here nhs fife or by attending one of the events that will be held across Fife over the coming 12 weeks.