COWDENBEATH is to be part of a new initiative which will see representatives from Fife’s communities getting round the table with health and social care professionals to ask – ‘how can we make health and social care services better for us?’

This grassroots up approach is being taken by Fife’s Health and Social Care Partnership as part of a legislative drive to transform health and social care services, services which must be able to support the needs of people as they living longer, with more complex conditions, whilst fulfil their ambition to stay independent and at home.

Recognising that no one community is the same, the Partnership has set about engaging across the seven locality areas which match the boundaries of the existing Fife local community planning groups:
The Cowdenbeath Area Committee covers Kelty, Crossgates, Hill of Beath, Lochgelly, Benarty and the ABCD villages. 

Tracy Harley, Locality Planning Co-ordinator, is leading the programme of work which will see 7 Locality and Cluster Planning Groups set up across Fife.

She said: “Our frontline, grassroots up approach has people actively debating and shaping the future of Fife’s health and social care services on a community by community basis.

"Earlier this year, we rolled out our ‘Creating Healthier Communities’ events – one in each of the 7 locality areas. 

"In total, this brought together over 600 people such as, nurses, social workers, patient and service user reps, housing officers, community planners, pharmacists, doctors and the third and independent sector and the response from people to get involved has been fantastic". 

She added: "Fife has a strong history of working with communities but when it comes to dealing with the health and social care challenges we face, this particular approach has never been done before. 

"A rolling programme to set up a Locality and Cluster Planning Group within each Locality area is now underway, with Glenrothes being the first locality to have their group formed. It is still very early days but we are confident that by taking a people centred approach we are starting from a strong place and thank everyone involved.”