Plans to introduce elections to local NHS health boards and lowering the age to vote in health board elections to 16 are among proposals outlined in the Health Board (Membership and Elections ) (Scotland) Bill, which was published today.
Launching the Bill, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon said that introducing directly elected health boards will ensure the public voice is heard and listened to at the heart of the decision making process.
She said: "In this, the 60th anniversary year of the NHS, there is a pressing need for us to remember what having a publicly-owned health service means.
"The NHS is an institution people rightly cherish as co-owners. But we have to make sure people are fully involved and do not feel shut out of decision making as they have in the past.
"That is why I have brought forward this Bill for elected health board members, to allow the public voice to be heard and listened to at the heart of the decision making process.
"This should ensure that, in future, decisions about local healthcare better reflect the views of those who use - and whose taxes pay for - NHS services.”
Sturgeon said that the Government is proposing to extend the franchise to 16 year olds as it wants to include as many users of the health service as possible, adding:
"This is an important way of introducing young people to the democratic process as they reach adulthood, within a public service of which they will already have experience."
One person has commented on this article. 1. Health Board elections bill launched
Kieran Collins MSYP, Unregistered The proposal to lower the Health Board election age is a fantastic step in the right decision, I congratulate Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government for recognising young peoples voices in this manner.
Surely this has to give Westminster something to think about in the General Election process and allow 16 year olds to play a full and active part in this democratic society.
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