Health forum to hold elections

ARGYLL and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership is to hold an election to find a chairman and vice chairman for the Mid Argyll Health and Care Forum (HCF).

Caroline Champion, public involvement manager for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, said: ‘The Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership recognises and values the role that Health and Care Forum members have in the redesign, development and delivery of services in their locality.

‘Members of Mid Argyll HCF continue to significantly contribute to and influence the work of the HSCP particularly in representing the views of the public and the people who use our health and social care services.

‘As chairman and vice chairman of Mid Argyll HCF, the elected candidates will have an important role to play in shaping the future of services in the local area.

‘To be eligible for election to the positions, people should live or have a substantial interest in Mid Argyll, for example working or living locally.

‘If you are interested in self nominating then you must be a registered member of the Argyll and Bute HCF.

‘We aim to include as many people as possible in this election process therefore anyone who is not a registered member but interested in either position may join at the same time as self nominating.’

Appointment of a chairman and vice chairman will be for either two or three years and candidates can be re- elected up to a maximum of six years.

Individuals who are employed by either NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute Council or the Third Sector will not be eligible to self nominate because of the potential for a conflict of interest.

Current members of the Mid Argyll HCF who fit the eligibility criteria have already been invited to stand for election with letters inviting self nominations mailed out on February 3, with a deadline for receipt of self nomination forms by noon on Monday February 20.

Following the receipt of nominations from interested individuals the ballot papers will be sent out on Monday March 6 to members who fit the eligibility criteria, with the ballot closing at noon on Monday April 3.

An independent witness will oversee the opening and counting of the ballot papers.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on the same day and the results will be published on the HSCP website on Tuesday April 4.