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Elected health boards get go-ahead
12/03/2009
Everyone over the age of 16 will be able to participate in health board elections under Scottish Government plans unanimously approved today by Parliament.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the move as a "major boost for democracy".
The Health Boards (Membership and Elections) Bill was passed after a Stage Three Parliamentary debate.
It means for the first time members of the public will be able to play an active part in the decisions made by health boards, which in 2009-10 will spend a record £8.64 billion of taxpayers' money.
And in a UK first, young people aged 16 and 17 will be able to take part in the polls, giving them a first taste of the electoral process and a say in how the NHS is run.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Elected health boards will give power back to local people. They represent a major boost for democracy and accountability.
"They are the best way of ensuring that boards will no longer be able to ride roughshod over community opinion, as has happened in the past. The voices of people whose taxes pay for the NHS will now have to be listened to and acted upon.
"This is the single biggest step we can take to re-energise public engagement with the health service, so I am delighted MSPs have shown that they trust the people of Scotland, as I do, to help steer the direction of health services for the greater good.
"These elections will have the added bonus of giving 16 and 17 year-olds their first taste of the democratic process which I hope will show them that their opinions do matter and can help shape public services."
Two pilot elections will take place next year and will run for two years to test the full range of issues a board might face.
They will see directly elected members and elected councillors form a majority of board members. The elections will use the Single Transferable Vote system.
An evaluation and further Parliamentary scrutiny will follow before any wider rollout. The pilots, which will cost £2.86 million, will be funded from central Scottish Government budgets. The locations of the pilots are yet to be confirmed.
Dr Robert Cumming, Chairman of the Scottish Health Campaigns Network, said:
"The perception that many health board decisions have been taken without proper public consultation has been a major concern for a number of years.
"This view was vindicated by the Independent Scrutiny Panel's reports which reversed decisions to close A&E units at Monklands and Ayr hospitals.
"We support the view that there should be greater public ownership of health board decisions, which have often been seen as not representing the views of the community."
Margaret Watt, Chairperson of the Scotland Patients Association, said:
"The decision to have two pilot studies is the best way forward and we are hopeful that elected health board members will enhance the decision-making process of health boards by widening the membership and promoting democracy."
Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said:
"Young Scot supports any moves which seek to give young people more say on the services they use as citizens every single day.
"In our work with young people, Young Scot often hears how important health is, whether that's mental health or issues around smoking and healthy eating.
"Giving young people a more direct voice in shaping health services is a welcome move and we look forward to seeing how health boards across Scotland build on the good work that is already going on around youth participation as a result of this."
Elected members will replace a number of the members on each board currently appointed by Ministers. They will receive the same level of remuneration as appointed members, currently around £7,500 per year.