Highland HealthVOICES July 2010 Issue 52

Highland HealthVOICES G U T H S l à i n t e n a G a i d h e a l t a c h d Network News

Inside this issue: 1. Forthcoming meetings...... 1 2. Future health services in West ...... 2 3. New cardiology service for Highland patients...... 3 4. Second MRI Scanner introduced at ...... 3 5. Redesign of East Midwifery Services ...... 4 6. Member committee reports ...... 4 7. First Scottish Dementia Strategy launch ...... 5 8. Guide dogs change your life ...... 5 9. Nature as a healer...... 6 10. Improvement work for Ross Memorial Hospital...... 6 11. Work starts on Action Plan for Skye and Lochalsh...... 7 12. Breastfeeding Awareness ...... 8 13. On line Stroke Carers Information Project ...... 8 14. Support needs for patients...... 8 15. X Programme ...... 9 16. Falls prevention plan ...... 10 17. A right blether...... 10 18. ’s Top Healthcare Manager 2010 ...... 11 19. Newsletters and reports ...... 11 20. Events...... 12

Produced by Public Engagement Team, Freepost RLUC-KBCH-KKHC, NHS Highland, Assynt House, IV2 3BW: Gill Keel, Head of Public Engagement 01463 704775, Email: [email protected] Karen Burnett, HHVN Coordinator 01463 704702, Email: [email protected] Lynda Gilfillan, (mornings Mon-Thurs), Administration Assistant 01463 704903, Email [email protected] Fax: 01463 235189 General email: [email protected] Website: NHS Highland Get Involved

1. Forthcoming meetings The programme below gives the next dates for each committee or Board meeting. The NHS Highland Board, Community Health Partnership and Raigmore meetings are all held in public, so you are very welcome to attend (but the staff contact would appreciate a call in advance so they can prepare anything if required). The meetings are also attended by the local Public Partnership Forum members so feel free to contact them if you want an issue raised or need more information.

Date Committee or Venue/Time Contact for details HHVN member contact Group Tues 10th NHS Highland Board Room, Lorraine Power, Board [Not applicable] August Board Assynt Services Administrator, Agenda and papers House, Assynt House, available on NHS Inverness Beechwood Park, Highland website a week Inverness prior to meeting

Tues 17th North Highland 2.00pm, Kay Oswald, CHP Liz Smith, Primary Aug CHP Marine Hotel, Support Manager, North Committee Member Committee Brora Highland Community Tel: 01847 893423 Health Partnership, Email: Caithness General [email protected] Hospital, Bankhead Road, Wick, KW1 5NS Allan Tubb, Deputy Tel: 01955 880246 Committee Member E mail: Tel: 0845 458 9261 [email protected]

Tuesday A&B Public 10am in Mid Gail McGeachy Robin Creelman, Chair 17th Partnership Argyll Secretary to Planning A&B PPF and CHP August Forum Community Contracting & Committee Member Hospital & Performance, NHS 01369 820222 Integrated Highland, Aros, [email protected] Care Centre Lochgilphead PA31 8LB Evelyn Hide, Vice Chair Tel: 01546 605681 A&B PPF and CHP Email: Committee Member [email protected] [email protected] m Thurs South East 2.00pm in Sue Blackhurst, Hamish Wood, Primary 19th Aug Highland CHP Board Room, Committee Committee Member Committee Assynt Administrator, South Email: House East Highland [email protected] Community health Tel: 0845 0956158 Partnership, Alder Dr Kate Adamson, Deputy House, Cradlehall Committee Member Business Park, Email: Inverness IV2 5GH [email protected] Tel: 01463 706984 m [email protected]

1 Date Committee or Venue/Time Contact for details HHVN member contact Group Mon 23rd Raigmore 10.30 – Lynn Lawrence, Jim Fry, Committee Aug Hospital 1.00pm Business Support Member Committee TBA Manager, General Tel: 01847 892045 Manager’s Office, A member of the Raigmore Hospital, Old Raigmore Patients’ Perth Road, Inverness, Council is also on this IV2 3UJ Tel: 01463 committee – contact 705152 Lynda if you’d like to get in [email protected] touch with them Wed 25th Argyll & Bute 1.00pm in Margaret Johnston, Robin Creelman, Chair Aug CHP Campbelltown General Manager’s A&B PPF and CHP Committee Aqualibirium Office, Argyll & Bute Committee Member CHP, Aros, 01369 820222 Lochgilphead, Argyll [email protected] PA31 8LB Evelyn Hide, Vice Chair Tel: 01546 605682 A&B PPF and CHP Email: Committee Member [email protected] [email protected] Fri 27th Mid Highland 10.00am in Jackie Jefferson, Mid Isobel Macdonald and Annie Aug CHP Training CHP Committee MacLeod - through Jackie Committee Room, CCH, Administrator, Larachan Jefferson Invergordon House, 9 Docharty Road, Dingwall IV15 9UG Tel: 01349 869200 [email protected]

2. Future health services in West Caithness At the end of June local people got involved with a reference group to help start shaping sustainable health services for West Caithness. The group was given information on the health needs of local people to help them consider the best way to meet these needs in the future within the resources available. Initially, a stakeholder group was set up, involving members of the North Highland Community Health Partnership Management Team, staff, local GPs, Highland Council Social Work and patient and public representatives. The stakeholder group has been looking at the issues and challenges and has done some work on outlining potential options for the future. This work was fed back to the new reference group, which has been set up as part of a wider public engagement exercise. The new reference group includes members of the former stakeholder group, more members of the local community and representatives of other groups and partner organisations. Feedback from the meeting has been very helpful.

Caithness Locality General Manager, Pauline Craw, said: “The aim of the exercise is to ensure that we are providing good quality, effective and efficient healthcare in the most appropriate setting and that this is based on the needs of our patients.”

2 “The reference group looked at existing services and the changing health needs of the community to help us redesign services to make the best use of the resources available to us and we are looking forward to continuing to work with staff, patients, carers, the local community and other interested parties to ensure this is achieved.”

If you would like more information on the project or the reference group you should contact Tracy Overton on 01955 880221 or at [email protected] .

3. New cardiology service for Highland patients An expansion to the cardiology service at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness means as many as 400 patients a year will no longer need to travel outwith the Highland area for cardiac treatment.

Patients requiring percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) – the balloons and stents into patient’s arteries to open up narrowings that can cause a heart attack or angina – can now be treated in Inverness following the setting up of the PCI service in Inverness.

Professor Steve Leslie is one of two interventional cardiologists working for NHS Highland. He said: “This is great news for the patients in Highland. By having this service here in Inverness our patients won’t have to travel to another centre such as Aberdeen or Edinburgh. They’ll be treated locally, be seen more quickly and they will get the procedure done by doctors who they know and are familiar with. The service will run during normal working hours throughout the week so some patients will still have to travel if they need to be treated at weekends or out of hours but for the majority they can be treated closer to home.

4. Second MRI Scanner introduced at Raigmore Hospital Patients in NHS Highland now have access to updated MRI imaging following the introduction of a second MRI Scanner at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. MRI is a safe and highly sophisticated imaging method with no radiation. The new scanner, which was delivered in March and operational from April, is of high specification meaning it will offer the most up-to-date MRI scanning available, offering improved imaging on a wide number of treatments for patients and help continue the work in further reducing waiting times Dr Helen Shannon is Head of Service for Radiology at Raigmore Hospital. She said: “We scan an average of 450 patients in the MRI department each month. The state of the art technology of the new scanner will improve diagnosis in many areas from scans of joints and orthopaedic conditions to abdominal diseases to assessment of cancer. Some patients will now benefit from MRI scans in place of other scans using potentially harmful radiation and some who previously travelled to other centres for MRI can now undergo diagnostic MRI scans and MRI guided biopsies in Raigmore.”

3 5. Redesign of East Sutherland Midwifery Services The way in which midwifery services are provided in East Sutherland is going to change but there will be no change to the services received by women living in this area. Sutherland is one of the last areas in the UK to still have a model that combines community nursing and midwifery in a single job. In future, staff providing the midwifery care in the area will work solely as midwives.

The area has 70 to 80 maternity cases per year - just six to seven births per month – with the majority of births taking place at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The service in East Sutherland, which includes antenatal and post natal care as well as homebirths, is currently covered by 10 dual duty nurse/midwives. Individually each nurse/midwife works mainly with patients with nursing needs and has a small number of midwifery clients. Maternity care will be the focus of the new midwife role. This will give them more time to develop services and expertise.

Local managers in Sutherland have been struggling to recruit to vacancies with two traditional posts in the area that combined both nursing and midwifery roles remaining unfilled since 2008. The new model should make it easier to fill both community nursing and midwifery posts.

Mary Burnside, who is Lead Midwife for North Highland Community Health Partnership, said “This is a different model to the one that we have traditionally been used to in Sutherland, but there will still be a seven day a week service, with women receiving care as planned at home and at clinics in their local GP practice, health centre or main hospital.”

6. Member committee reports North Highland CHP Meeting Report Points that will be of interest to other members from the last Committee meeting held at the beginning of June:

1. The updated North Community Health Partnership Saving Action Plan 2010/2011 2. Progress report on North CHP Inspection Control Action Plan. Caithness General Hospital is due an inspection visit on 8/9 July by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate 3. Report by Bill Reid, Head of E Health on Electronic Transmission of Laboratory results.

The Stakeholders Group for the West of Caithness re-design Group held its last meeting on 1 June 10. Re-design of services is going out to wider consultation. The first meeting of the new Reference Group was held on 28 June.

An excellent development session led by Okain McLennan, non Executive Member of NHS Highland Board took place before the CHP Committee Meeting. The subject covered was "Governance" and was well received.

4 Questioned and asked for clarification on several items e.g. Junior Doctors position at Caithness General Hospital. Contributing to discussion on re- design of services

Elizabeth Smith Primary Member, North Highland CHP

SE Highland CHP Meeting Report – 14 June

Brief points of interest to members raised at the meeting were as follows:

1. The new Chronic Pain Management Service for the Highlands, although based at Caithness General Hospital it will cover all patients in the Highlands. 2. Work continues to explore the various options to ensure patients in the rural hospitals will continue to have television once the digital switchover takes place. 3. Work is still in progress preparing an operational plan to take into account the reduction of budget allocation for the CHP. Every effort is being made to minimise the impact of the services being delivered. 4. It was encouraging to be informed that the percentage number awaiting discharge from hospital requiring home support has reduced. 5. I raised a concern about the time period of delayed discharges for patients in the Welfare Guardianship sector. 6. The CHP are meeting the majority of their HEAT targets (periods of time people have to wait for appointments).

Hamish Wood Primary Member, South East Highland CHP

7. First Scottish Dementia Strategy launch

The Scottish Government have said as part of Scotland’s first national dementia strategy they are committed to provide improved support after diagnosis and hospital care for people with dementia.

The strategy lays out eight specific actions to support improvements in the care and treatment of people with dementia, focusing particularly on improving the support given in the wake of a dementia diagnosis and improving hospital care. It also commits the Scottish Government to continuing its support for dementia research.

For more information follow the link to national dementia strategy

8. Guide dogs change your life A guide dog can offer a unique, safe and effective way of getting about independently and confidently. You don't need to have lost all your sight - most people who own a guide dog still have some vision. You don't have to be formally registered as blind or partially-sighted either. There is no upper age limit - people of any age become successful guide dog owners.

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It's not just about improving mobility - a guide dog and its owner exist as a partnership, and the companionship, loyalty and fun that each partner brings to this relationship can be immensely rewarding.

If you or someone you know may benefit simply give the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association a call on 0845 372 7499 and they will arrange to come and talk to you, informally and confidentially, to help you decide if a guide dog might be suitable for you. Alternatively you can get more information from the website www.guidedogs.org.uk or by contacting Pamela Munro, Information Officer on [email protected]. or by telephone on 0845 372 7310.

9. Nature as a healer Patients at the County Community Hospital at Invergordon in Easter Ross can now enjoy the pleasures of gardening as part of their rehabilitation treatment at the facility. A new rehabilitation garden, which has been created in a courtyard between wards at the hospital with the help of a local business and a local charity, was opened earlier in June by NHS Highland Rehabilitation Coordinator, Iain Macritchie. The aim of the garden is to provide a therapeutic environment in which patients can receive occupational therapy as part of their recovery after illness to help them regain the skills and abilities needed for them to return home and live as independently as possible. Iain Macritchie said he was very pleased to be asked to open the garden and pointed out that gardening provided a wide range of physical and psychological benefits. He said: “The rehabilitation garden project at Invergordon is a fantastic example of what rehabilitation is all about – holistic care aimed at maximum independence and quality of life for the individual.”

10. Improvement work for Ross Memorial Hospital An area of Ross Memorial Hospital, Dingwall with five beds will close temporarily while urgent work is carried out to bring it up to the standards required for the control of infection. The hospital has a record of low levels of infection and this work will help to maintain and improve on this already good position.

The decision to carry out the work comes during an internal environmental audit which is being carried out as part of NHS Highland’s programme of healthcare environment improvements. The inspection is based on the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate’s standards and the work will ensure that the walls, floors and other surfaces are easy to clean. Arrangements are being made for patients. Locality Manager Alison Phimister has given a guarantee that patients will continue to receive the care they need. She said: “Where possible we will provide nursing care to allow patients to be cared for in their homes. If a patient has to be admitted and all eight remaining beds in

6 Dingwall are occupied we can admit patients to County Community Hospital in Invergordon.”

The exact details of the work to be done still needs to be fully assessed by the estates department. This means it is not possible to say exactly when it will be reopened but the intention is to reopen all five beds.

11. Work starts on Action Plan for Skye and Lochalsh Members of Skye and Lochalsh Health Services Reference Group have agreed on their role and are helping develop an action plan for future health services in the area. The reference group, which is made up of Highland councillors, community councillors, statutory and voluntary partners, clinical staff, professional advisors and NHS Highland managers, was set up last month to help shape the future of sustainable health services in Skye and Lochalsh. The group have just recently met for the second time in Broadford on Skye.

Members agreed the role and remit of the group and the communications plan, which will help to ensure it communicates effectively with all those interested or involved in health services in Skye and Lochalsh.

It was agreed that the role of the group was to consider proposals for the redesign of local health services. And to see that the views of local people are fed into and are considered in the planning and delivery of sustainable local healthcare services advising where further engagement is needed.

The group will help develop the action plan for service change and improvement, advise on and scrutinise the implementation of the plan, including effective communication, and comment on the action plan and either support or challenge where appropriate.

Workshops are to be held in the coming months and will be used to further develop the action plan which will then be considered at the next meeting of the reference group in September. The CHP committee will also be noting progress and supporting further development work. The reference group was told of other items being considered by the CHP Committee about are bed spacing, single room provision and en suite facilities in the MacKinnon Memorial Hospital, Broadford.

Mid Highland CHP Head of Finance, Tom Slavin, gave members a presentation on the current financial situation and identified the financial challenges facing the CHP.

Reference group Chair, Roddy Murray, who is Chair of Sleat Community Council, pointed out that it was important to live within the smaller pot of money that is now available for the provision of health services. Mr Murray said “I feel the group has a strong role which sets the foundation for greater public engagement in the design and delivery of health services for the communities of Skye and Lochalsh”.

7 12. Breastfeeding Awareness Recently a Breastfeeding Awareness week was held by NHS Highland to promote breastfeeding as the best way of embedding good health in infants and fostering positive eating behaviours for the future. The Scottish Government is currently developing a Maternal and Infant Nutrition Strategy providing advice to all those involved in infant nutrition. The strategy will emphasise the importance of breastfeeding in maintaining and improving health and in establishing healthy eating patterns in infancy. If you know of any young mums who would be interested, further information and advice is available from the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 or visit www.feedgoodfactor.org.uk. Additional help and support can also be found on the National Breastfeeding Week website at www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk.

13. On line Stroke Carers Information Project Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland are working on a stroke carers project called STARs4 (Stroke Training and Awareness Resources) and are looking for carer contacts who would be interested in taking part in this project. The project will involve expanding an on line service to set up a web site specifically to give advice, support and information to carers.

Are you a carer for someone who has had a stroke recently or in the past?

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland would like to know what information you would find useful at different stages in the stroke treatment process. Once completed, this website will be for people who need answers and information wherever they live in Scotland.

The term carer means anyone who gives unpaid support. This could be to a family member, friend or neighbour. Carers can be all ages.

• Do you use a computer at home to access the internet? • Would you like to take part in giving people like yourself more information and advice about care for stroke? • Could you attend a pilot meeting for about 3 hours to give us your expert knowledge and experience?

If you would like to be involved in this exciting project please contact Fran Bailey, STARs 4 Project Coordinator, 65 North Castle Street, Edinburgh EH2 3LT, tel 131 260 1070 or by e mail [email protected] if she has enough interest she would like to run a focus group in Highland.

14. Support needs for patients From Autumn 2010 all GP practices will be prompted to let hospitals know if a patient they are referring has specific access needs and/or requirements.

Who may have access needs?

8 • People with sensory impairments (visual, hearing) • People who cannot or have difficulty communicating in English • People with literacy problems • People with mobility problems • People with Learning Disabilities • Older people • Other

What personal requirements might a person have? • Dietary requirements • Ethnicity and/or culture related requirements/preferences (gender of a professional, etc.) • Religious needs • Other

The information would be collected only with the patient’s consent and then recorded by the GP on a separate form from their medical records. The information will then be given to the hospital to help staff tailor their booking process to the individual patient’s access needs and preferences and to help arrange the support for the patient.

We are currently in the process of developing information resources for patients (e.g. booklet and posters). We would like to consult patients with access needs and specific requirements about these resources and what they think about this initiative.

For further information about the Patient Access and Positive Healthcare Experience Project and to give your views, please contact Anna Maria Kaczmarek, Policy Development Manager either by e mail on [email protected] by telephone 01463 704918 or at the address below.

Anna Maria Kaczmarek Policy Development Manager Community and Health Improvement Planning NHS Highland Assynt House Beechwood Park Inverness, IV23BW

15. X Programme NHS Highland are running a healthy weight programme called the ‘X programme’ which offers support to children, young people and their families to help them be more healthy.

A successful Health Day based on the X programme took place in a Caithness school in June and the children discovered that adopting a healthy lifestyle can be fun. It is an enjoyable, interactive, family-centred programme, which builds confidence around healthy eating and fun physical activity over an eight-week period, with a catch up party three months later.

9 If you know of anyone who might be ready to take up the challenge or is interested and would like more information you should contact Jennie Rawlins on 01847 892881 or [email protected] in the first instance.

16. Falls prevention plan A new approach to reducing the number of people who suffer injury and loss of independence due to a fall is to be rolled out across the Highlands.

NHS Highland is working with Age Scotland and its two local authorities, Highland Council and Council to reduce the risk of falls in their own premises and in the wider community.

Falls are a major cause of avoidable injury and even death particularly among older people. For a serious fracture a patient will require a long hospital stay and a package of care at home to help them get their independence back.

The plan is to identify people at risk of having falls and put in place measures to make it less likely. In other parts of Scotland this has been shown to reduce the number and severity of falls. This means fewer people enduring the pain and loss of independence that an accident will cause and savings to hospital and community care resources.

A guide, (known as the MORSE tool), is being used by health staff to assess patients’ risk of falls and training for 40 members of NHS staff has already taken place. This tool looks at environmental issues like floor coverings, how well someone walks already and if physiotherapy could help them improve their balance. If a patient is on four or more medicines they should have this reviewed to see if it can be reduced as dizziness can be a common side effect and finally asking patients if they’ve had a fall because that suggests they are at risk of another.

During ‘Falls Awareness Week’ Age Scotland held events for older people in Thurso, Dingwall, Nairn and Lochgilphead to highlight the benefits of maintaining strength and balance through physical activity and checking home and fire safety.

17. A right blether Recognising the rights of children and young people in Scotland has never been more important. They are enshrined in international law through the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. The Commissioner for Children and Young People safeguards these rights in Scotland.

This year the Commissioner, Tam Baillie, is starting an ambitious project to ensure that the opinions of all children and young people in Scotland are heard. It’s called a RIGHT Blether and will directly influence his programme of work over the next four years. He has created activities to help children and young people understand more about their rights. Could you perhaps pass on information, run taster activities or support youngsters to tell the Commissioner about some of the good things that are going on?

10 To find out more visit www.arightblether.co.uk or contact the Commissioner at 0131 558 3733, 85 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AU email: [email protected]

18. Scotland’s Top Healthcare Manager 2010 The Institute of Healthcare Management is looking for nominations for this prestigious award. The award is open to all staff in managerial and leadership positions employed within the NHS in Scotland, to all Practice Managers in Scotland and to all other managers working exclusively within healthcare services and practising in Scotland.

• Do you know a Manager who has gone above and beyond…..to make sure that services to patients are the best they can be? • Do you know a Manager who is an excellent leader, who makes sure that their staff are always able to do their best? • Do you know a Manager who should be more widely recognised for their excellence?

There is no set nomination form to complete. All you need do is to clearly note down your comments using the questions above as a guideline and giving sufficient detail of who they are and what they have done that is special for the judges to consider.

Nominations, including supporting evidence, should be made as soon as possible and can be made electronically to [email protected] or by hard copy to: Martin Hill, Secretary, IHM Scotland, 1 Turnbull Way, Strathaven, ML10 6UZ.

Please note the closing date for nominations is Friday, 3rd September, 2010.

19. Newsletters and reports The next issue of the NHS Highland Team Update will soon be available on the website here. Remember to ask if you wish to receive a paper copy.

NHS 24 has produced a new leaflet called ‘Working Together, You and NHS 24’. It gives some information on what they do, how they work with patients and the public to improve their service and how they intend improving it. It also has information on how you can go about working with them – for a copy of the leaflet get in touch with their Patient Focus and Public Involvement contact Isaac Umeed, tel 0141 337 4556 or email: [email protected] or from their website www.nhs24.com

Carers Network Bulletin Spring 2010 is now available and includes information on Carers Week, courses, benefits, groups and conferences for carers across the Highlands. Copies are available from Highland Community Care Forum, Highland House, 20 Longman Road, Inverness IV1 1RY, tel: 01463 723570. Alternatively you can contact [email protected] or view their website at www.hccf.org.uk.

11 Same as You Local Implementation Group newsletter 19 is now available. This edition lets you find out what local experts have been involved with, questions and answers from the Learning Disability Network, a report on the Falcon Group filming project and information on forthcoming events. SAYLIG

The summer edition of ‘Contact a family’ magazine is now available with articles on new developments for Scotland’s disabled children, new support groups and activities and days out for the holidays. If you would like to sign up for a copy please send an e mail to [email protected] or see the web page at http://www.cafamily.org.uk. A freephone helpline is also available on 0808 808 3555.

The Mental Health Improvement e-bulletin June 2010, with articles on coping with dementia, carer’s week and the new dementia strategy is now available and you can download a copy from the website at www.healthscotland.com/mental-health . If you would like to be added to the distribution list please e mail [email protected] or contact Sharon Allison, Health Improvement Programme Officer at [email protected] You can also contact Lynda on 01463 704903 if you would like a hard copy of the bulletin.

Scottish Parliament Annual Report 2009-2010 is available now on their website in English and Gaelic:

• Scottish Parliament Annual Report • Gaelic Annual Report

This report covers the work of the Scottish Parliament between May 2009 and May 2010 and includes sections on parliamentary business in the Chamber and in the committees, and on how the Parliament has engaged with the public and in the area of international relations.

20. Events Issues affecting women in rural areas The Scottish Women’s Convention (SWC) has been set up to speak to and consult with women in Scotland to influence policy. The SWC is funded by the Scottish Government and is an independent body with its own staff.

This year they’re visiting the Highlands over a three day period. They will be at the Lochinver Village Hall from 12.00pm on Thursday 15th July, the Lairg Highland Hotel from 12.00pm on Friday 16th July and the Ramada Hotel, Inverness on Saturday 17th July from 12.00pm.

The SWC is keen to meet with as many women as possible. They will be discussing issues such as proposed cuts to services and their impact on women, what’s good about living in the Highlands of Scotland and what women would change about it.

The roadshow is completely free and a light lunch will be provided. If you are interested in going along or for more information about the SWC please email

12 [email protected] or phone 0141 248 8186 or visit their website, www.scottishwomensconvention.org

Inverness Joint Patient Participation Group (JPPG) The next meeting of the JPPG will take place on Wednesday, 1st September and will be hosted by Fairfield Patient Participation Group. For more information on these meetings and confirmation of venue please contact Diana Wortham, JPPG Facilitator on 01463 723568 or by e mail on [email protected].

Reminder: The 21st Conference of Cancer Support Groups is taking place in Edinburgh on 23rd/24th/25th September. If you would like more information you can visit their web site on www.sccsg.org or contact SCCSG Conference Organiser, c/o CLAN House, Caroline Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2TH. Tel No 01224 647000

Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care Annual Conference, Thursday 28 October 2010, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt University. If you would like further information once it is available please email: [email protected]

The deadline for articles for the next issue is 28th July, 2010.

We would like to express our gratitude to all of you who have returned your forms and have decided to stay with the Network.

But for some of you this will be the last newsletter you receive. We’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for being a member of the Highland HealthVOICES Network.

Remember, if you reconsider you can always rejoin in the future.

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