Hearty Voices, the Government and Your MSP

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Hearty Voices, the Government and Your MSP
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• Who am I?
• Who are you?
• Why are you here?

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• Hearty Voices is about working with health
  professionals/Boards etc to improve health
  services
• This session takes that a step further- and
  considers how to use the political system to
  affect change, IF the above route is unsuccessful

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• Doreens story
• Heart failure patient helped by specialist HF
  nurse in her home
• Service funded by lottery for 3 years- then under
  threat
• Doreen worked with MCN as patient rep
• MCN convinced of need for service- but Board
  wouldnt fund it
• HF nursing service therefore under threat of
  closure
• Doreen met her MSP twice and asked her to take
  action
• MSP wrote to Chief Exec of NHS Board for
  explanation
• In 3 months all nurses had permanent contracts
• Normal service resumed
• Thousands of patients benefit
• YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

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• Devolution and why it matters

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• Devolved or reserved?
• Education
• Justice
• Broadcasting
• Charity Law
• Foreign Affairs
• Health

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The political institutions
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• Health and the Government
• We vote for MSPs
• MSPs choose First Minister
• FM chooses his Ministers
• Cabinet Sec for Health and Wellbeing in charge of
  Health dept and NHS Scotland
• NHS Scotland in charge of NHS Boards
• Sowho is really in charge?

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• Finding out what you are entitled to
• SIGN Guidelines for CHD
• National (Better Health Better Care etc)
• and local policies
• First approach Health board/MCN
• Then consider political route

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• Who represents you?
• http//www.writetothem.com
• MP
• MEPs

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• Who represents me at Holyrood?
• http//www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages
  /msplocator.htm
• My constituency MSP
• My regional list MSPs
• How to find out more about them
• Where to go if you dont have internet access

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• Approaching your MSP or MP
• Which MSP to choose?
• Your power/status
• How to find them

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• Some lobbying tactics
• What is the issue and why is it important to me?
• How does it affect other people?
• What do I want to see happen?
• Also
• Know what you are entitled to (SIGN)
• Use what motivates them- party/interests/ recent
  speeches/statements
• Be confident but not arrogant
• Use your status- their job is to represent you!

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The national political situation
Down from 50 MSPs to 46
Up from 27 MSPs to 47 SNP largest party by one
seat- but no outright majority
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Have you had any recent personal experiences
that might help us to shape and inform future
actions?
Deadline 4 days and counting!
http//www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/13
165824/0
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If you want to find out more about campaigning
and get involved www.bhf.org.uk/news__campaignin
g

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• Cardiac Rehab Campaign Scotland

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