Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership HSCP

25/05/2026

The HSCP's Joint Strategic Plan 2026-2031 will be presented to our Integration Joint Board on 27 May.

We took our draft priorities out to our local communities across Argyll and Bute between October 2025 and January 2026. The key themes from these roadshows, and from the responses to the survey, about our communities health and wellbeing priorities can be viewed in the attached graphics.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the engagement process which greatly helped us with the development of the Plan.

21/05/2026

We are delighted to announce that Dr Turki Alhusaini was recently appointed on a permanent basis as the salaried General Practitioner (GP) for the Garelochhead and Kilcreggan GP practices. Dr Alhusaini is working across both practices to meet the needs of local patients. - https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/news/2026/05/salaried-gp-recruited-for-garelochead-and-kilcreggan-gp-practices/

21/05/2026

What's behind NHS Highland's Director of Public Health Annual Report and why does it focus on children's early years?

In this short video, Jennifer Davies, NHS Highland's Director of Public Health, introduces the report and shares what the evidence, data, and children's own voices are telling us about growing up in Highland and Argyll and Bute today.

Watch below and find the full report link in the comments.

20/05/2026

One in five children under five in Highland are living in poverty and that figure has not improved since 2010.

Today we are publishing our Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025: A Strong Start: health and wellbeing in the early years.

It is the first annual report from Jennifer Davies, NHS Highland's Director of Public Health, and it takes an honest look at the health and wellbeing of young children across our region.

The numbers tell part of the story, of the 12,834 children aged under five in NHS Highland in 2024, 21.9% live in relative poverty. One in three live in a remote or rural area. Around half live in the parts of Scotland with the most limited access to services. The rate of tooth decay in five-year-olds in our most deprived communities is nearly three times that in the least deprived.

But the report also draws on the voices of more than 170 children and parents gathered using play-based methods with children as young as two. Their words are some of the most powerful evidence in the report.

It calls for collective action in five areas:
⭐ Invest early in prevention
⭐ Tackle the drivers of poverty
⭐ Create child-friendly places
⭐ Strengthen universal services
⭐ Ensure equity and children's rights

Read the full report via the link below.
https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/about/publications-and-public-records/director-of-public-health-annual-report/

19/05/2026

The HSCP's Joint Strategic Plan 2026-2031 has been developed and will be presented to our Integration Joint Board on 27 May. In advance of the meeting we wanted to highlight that our key priorities from the plan for the next 5 years will be as follows:

1) Financial and System Sustainability

2) Preventative and Community Based Care

3) Integrated and Person Centred Care

4) Access to Care and Tackling Health Inequalities

5) Our Health and Social Care Staff

6) Digital Transformation

The full document, including more details of the priorities, will be published following the IJB meeting

18/05/2026

Community Treatment & Care Services for Strachur & Inveraray GP Practice Patients - To read the full press release visit https://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk/news/2026/05/community-treatment-care-services-for-strachur-inveraray-gp-practice-patients/

17/05/2026

Keeping your employees healthy and in work is easier with the right support. Healthy Working Lives gives employers the resources and guidance to do just that. Early action reduces turnover, supports wellbeing and keeps your business running smoothly. You don’t have to figure it out alone, we’re here to help. Visit healthyworkinglives.scot/keeping-people-in-work/

15/05/2026

NHS Highland would like to extend its sincere thanks and best wishes to Elizabeth (Liz) Higgins, who retired earlier this year. Liz provided outstanding leadership and dedication throughout her time with NHS Highland, supporting nursing services across Argyll and Bute and Highland with a strong focus on delivering high-quality, person-centred care. Her contribution has had a lasting impact on teams, services, and the communities we serve.

As Associate Nurse Director, Liz played a key role in driving improvements in nursing practice, supporting workforce development, and promoting excellence across a wide range of care settings. She was widely respected for her supportive leadership style, her advocacy for nursing teams, and her commitment to continuous improvement in patient care.

We thank Liz for her many years of service and wish her every happiness and fulfilment in her retirement.

14/05/2026

Rural Emergency Physician Vicki Robertson Awarded Prestigious General Medical Council Credential - To read the full press release, visit https://ow.ly/bIk050YZsoT

14/05/2026

International Nurses Day Celebrations:
CTAC, Ward and Community Nurses across Helensburgh and Cowal marked International Nurses Day with a series of “Chill‑Out and Celebrate” self‑care and relaxation sessions, continuing to run over the next two weeks.

Held in Helensburgh and Dunoon, these events are designed to promote staff wellbeing and encourage self‑care, providing nurses with a valuable opportunity to unwind, reflect, and recharge. The sessions include a combination of guided meditation and sound bath experiences, offering a calming and restorative environment for all who attend.

These sessions recognise the vital importance of supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of nursing staff, whose roles are often busy and demanding. By taking time to pause and focus on self‑care, staff can return to their roles feeling refreshed and better equipped to continue delivering high‑quality care.

During the sessions, nurses were encouraged to reflect on the importance of looking after themselves, as well as others. The sessions serve as a reminder that prioritising personal wellbeing is essential not only for individual health, but also for sustaining the high standards of care provided across services.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our remarkable nurses. Your dedication, compassion and commitment to delivering excellent care throughout the year do not go unnoticed and are truly appreciated.



Helensburgh Advertiser Dunoon Observer and Isle of Bute News

13/05/2026