People will be given a greater say in shaping their local health and care services with the launch of a new engagement body, it has been pledged.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) Community Engagement, which has replaced the Scottish Health Council, says it aims to ensure the voices of communities are heard to influence local services and national policy.

Launched this week, it will promote and spread best practice in community engagement to NHS boards and integration bodies across Scotland.

Another key role will be carrying out independent assessments of how well health and care services are engaging with communities.

A new combined public health agency for Scotland has also come into being this week, with the launch of Public Health Scotland.

Lynsey Cleland, HIS director of community engagement, said services are better when they are “informed and shaped by the people that use them”.

“Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement will play a crucial role in supporting better engagement between those organisations that provide services and the people and communities that use them.”

However the initial focus for the new body will be prioritising supporting the response of Scotland’s health and social care services to the covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Cleland added: “In these unprecedented times, we will aid the national effort to respond to covid-19 by using our local presence and national reach to collaborate with a wide range of individuals, groups and organisations, and to support local communities and health and care services.”

Suzanne Dawson, chair of HIS Community Engagement added: “We believe that people and communities should have opportunities to use their skills and experience to design and improve the health and care services we all use.

“Above all, we will help to ensure that all voices are heard in shaping health and care services.”

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