Speaking during a debate in the Scottish Parliament about democracy in local health care, Liberal Democrat Public Health spokesperson Jamie Stone MSP has called for the role of democratically elected local councillors to be enhanced in relation to health services in their area, rather than fully elected Health Boards.

Commenting, Mr Stone said:

“Whilst it is important that local communities have a strong voice in discussions and decisions on local health services, we believe that there is more than one solution to improving democracy in local health care.

“Rather than move to directly elected health boards, we would prefer to see the role of democratically elected local councillors to be enhanced in relation to health services in their area.

“We believe that this would increase accountability, address existing democratic deficits and avoid unnecessary structural upheaval that is associated with direct elections to Health Boards.”