HAVING been elected as a councillor this year, I was surprised and delighted to be offered the position of policy lead for health and social care.
One of the roles that goes with this is to chair the Integrated Joint Board. This oversees the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, and the chairman alternates every two years between a councillor and one of the NHS representatives on the board.
The partnership covers all health and social care services in Argyll and Bute – from those used by the youngest to the oldest, covering learning disabilities, physical and mental health, in the community as well as hospitals, care homes, GP surgeries, and by the council, NHS and independent providers.