A LANDMARK document setting out the future direction of health services in Dumfries and Galloway has been approved by the NHS Board.
The Statement of Strategic Intent – ‘Creating a New Future Together’ – establishes the vision, priorities and principles which will guide decision-making across NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the years ahead, helping shape how services evolve to meet changing needs while remaining sustainable for the future.
Speaking after the document was officially agreed today, Chairman Mark Cook said: “The Statement of Strategic Intent reflects our ambition to create a healthier future for Dumfries and Galloway, working alongside our staff, partners, communities and the people we serve.
“It sets out a clear direction for the years ahead, recognising both the opportunities and the challenges we face, while remaining focused on improving outcomes and reducing inequalities.”
He added: “This document is of key importance to us – helping guide the decisions we make, the services we develop and the way we work with our partners and communities as we continue to build a sustainable future for health and care in Dumfries and Galloway.”
The document has been developed to support the delivery of the Board’s wider ambitions and will help inform future planning, service development and investment decisions.
It recognises the changing needs of the region’s population, the importance of prevention and early intervention, and the need to work differently across organisational boundaries to improve outcomes for people and communities.
The Statement outlines a vision in which people are supported to live healthier lives, receive high-quality care when they need it, and are treated with dignity, compassion and respect throughout every stage of life.
It identifies a series of priorities for the next three years, including improving population health, reducing inequalities, strengthening community-based care, supporting staff, embracing innovation and ensuring services remain sustainable in the face of growing demand and financial pressures.
The strategy also reinforces a commitment to working more closely with partners across health, social care, local government and the third sector, recognising that many of the factors influencing health and wellbeing extend beyond healthcare services alone.
The priorities reflected in the Statement can already be seen in work underway across Dumfries and Galloway, including efforts to strengthen community-based care, improve access to GP services, develop new models of intermediate care, support earlier intervention and make better use of digital technology.
Director of Strategic Planning David Rowland said: “Creating a New Future Together is about more than the services we provide. It is about working collectively to improve health and wellbeing across our region and ensuring that care is delivered in ways which are person-centred, effective and sustainable.
“We know that lasting improvement can only be achieved through collaboration, and we are committed to continuing to listen to and work alongside our workforce and communities as this programme develops.”
Alongside the full Statement of Strategic Intent, work is also underway to produce accessible versions of the document to help ensure its ambitions are widely understood.
This includes a shorter, more accessible summary version and an Easy Read edition, helping people engage with the plans and understand how they aim to support healthier lives and better care across Dumfries and Galloway in the years ahead.
All of these versions will be published shortly on the website www.nhsdg.co.uk
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