New blood for Falkirk health and social care board
The board responsible for making decisions about Falkirk’s local health and social care services has expanded its number of voting members by two.
An additional representative from Falkirk Council will now sit on Falkirk’s Integration Joint Board and will soon be followed by another from NHS Forth Valley.
Following a vote of councillors on Thursday, Councillor Laura Murtagh has been appointed to the board, with NHS Forth Valley due to appoint its additional member at its next meeting on June 30.
According to the board, the move is the first step in expanding the expertise and range of decision makers when considering changes to local services.
Later this year, updated legislation will come into effect to extend voting rights on IJBs across Scotland to include service user, unpaid carer, and third sector representatives.
These members sit on the IJB to provide professional and lived-experience insight, but currently do not vote on decisions. These new voting rights are expected to be expanded from Falkirk’s October IJB meeting.
Gordon Johnston, chairman of the Integration Joint Board, said: “I am pleased to welcome two new members to the board, whose knowledge and experience will help strengthen and broaden our decision-making.
“The collaborative approach of Integration Joint Boards brings together councillors, health board colleagues and community expertise to make decisions about our local services.
“This is vital to ensure we are taking a whole-system view of health and social care, and I very much look forward to working with our new members as we continue to make informed decisions for the people of Falkirk.”