Developing Healthcare Services
NHS Western Isles Clinical Strategy Options Development

Since the 'Next Steps' event in February 2008, the Clinical Strategy Project Team have been collecting and collating ideas and input from public and staff groups on how the healthcare services in the Western Isles should develop.

Options are now beginning to emerge so it really is your last chance to tell us how you would like to see options for services develop (if you haven't done so already). The next stage will be to decide how to present the options and choose between them. The method we will use for this is known as option appraisal - a large group of stakeholders will consider firstly what criteria to use to measure the options; secondly the relative merit of each criterion - the 'weighting'; finally these criteria will be applied to the options and each will then be scored according the weighting to give a league table of the options in terms of desirability. The stakeholder group will include representatives of staff, the public, the voluntary sector, local authorities, education, support groups, communities, diversity groups and mainland service providers. This process may also be subject to Independent Scrutiny.

This will be followed by public consultation, which is a three month period during which all the options are explained to the public at large to enable them to say what they think of the process and which option they would prefer.

The final stage will be a collation of the consultation into a formal presentation to the Health Board in July 2009, which will then carefully evaluate the options and how they are viewed by the population before making the decision as to which option will be adopted.

Now is your final chance to get involved in the development of the specialty options for both hospital and community care services - so don't miss your chance!

Current Options for NHS Western Isles services

A paper detailing current proposals and areas for further consideration (based on available evidence) will came before the Board in December. NHS Western Isles staff will receive a copy of the paper.

For information on work to date, or details of options as they stand, contact the Interim Clinical Strategy Project Manager (details below).

How to get involved

• Attend a Clinical Strategy open staff meeting (details have been circulated to staff)
  
• Email: Clinical.Strategy@wihb.scot.nhs.uk or Interim Clinical Strategy Project Manager Karen Tarn on Karen.Tarn@nhs.net
  
• Visit: http://www.seurbeatha.org/
  
• Telephone: 01851 708160 (Ext 3160)
  
• Clinical Strategy Project Office: The office is based on the top floor of the Health Board Offices, and staff are welcome to 'drop in' on Wednesday or Thursdays. (The intention is that the Clinical Strategy Project Manager will base herself in Western Isles Hospital at certain times of the week, so will be available to discuss the process and options (this will be advertised widely).