“Action is needed because we can’t keep doing the things we’ve always done”
- Written by: Annemargaret Black — East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership — Head of Community Health and Care Services
- Published: 5th June 2018
We asked Annemargaret about her views at our Action: The 2nd Health and Social Care Integration Event.
At our Annual Conference, Action: The 2nd Health and Social Care Integration Event on 4 June 2018, we interviewed a range of delegates to monitor their opinions on the conference and their thoughts on how to implement action in health and social care.
Annemargaret was one of our lightning speakers and describes her role as Head of Community Health and Care Services, East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership as a ‘red tape buster’.
We asked Annemargaret:
Why is action needed in health and social care?
Annemargaret – I think action is needed because we can’t keep doing the things we’ve always done. We talk about demand growing and public finance shrinking, but I see that as a golden opportunity to actually do things differently. I’ve worked in the public sector for a long time and I think that a lot of the services are over-professionalised and don’t want to take a risk. So for example, we have thirty, forty page assessment documents that troll through people’s lives and find needs that they didn’t even know they had. I think in the new world, the world we are currently living in down in East Ayrshire, it’s about what matters to you. Its about what is it that you are here today for and how can I help you. And quite often, in fact most of the time, people do not want the world they just want a bit of practical help and support and actually that’s if there is any money available, I would still want to do that and listen to what’s important to people.
How would you sum up the event?
Annemargaret – The event is absolutely brilliant, I think the passion in the room is incredible and I think that the power in the room is something that we should be embracing. I absolutely think that health and social care partnerships need the challenge, but they also need the partnership with people, like-minded people that are attending this event today.
You can also watch Annemargaret’s interview on the ALLIANCE YouTube channel (this link will take you away from our website).
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