From AHSCP
Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) is 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.
Now, AHSCP is calling on communities to help shape local health and social care services in Aberdeenshire for the coming years, in the face of reducing budgets and increasing complex need.
Tomorrow’s event – Tuesday 22 October is at Viewmount Council Chamber, Stonehaven, 3pm-7pm.
Dubbed The Strategy Road Show, numerous engagement events are taking 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 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 – ten years.
The series of events will see open conversations take place with communities, surrounding the financial challenges faced by AHSCP and how services must be then 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.
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, whilst 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.
“We have held engagement events before, but perhaps not quite on this scale,” she said.
“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.”
The first engagement event will take place on Monday 16th September at Buchan House in Peterhead, with numerous localised topics up for discussion.
Chair of the IJB, John Tomlinson, is hopeful that the events will help people understand the many challenges faced by AHSCP.
“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,” he said.
“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 chair of the IJB, Councillor Anne Stirling, the results will help inform the decision-making process before a new strategic plan can be mapped out.
“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,” she said.
“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
Feature image – Previously the Invercarron Resource Centre for Older People, the Vaccine Clinic is operated by AHSCP