NHS Forth Valley is inviting the public to have their say on a bold new strategy that aims to transform the way health and care is delivered across the region over the next decade.

The draft NHS Forth Valley Population Health and Care Strategy sets out a long-term vision to help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. At its core, the Strategy aims to shift the focus from treating illness to preventing it – placing greater emphasis on early support, local services and tackling the wider factors that influence health.

Among the key priorities are:

• Investing in prevention to help people stay well for longer.
• Providing support at an earlier stage to help prevent conditions from worsening.
• Expanding access to services in local communities, making it easier for people to get the help they need closer to home.
• Improving the health and wellbeing of the whole population—not just those already in the healthcare system
• Working alongside local councils, charities, community organisations, carers and other partners to address the root causes of poor health.
• Using resources wisely to get the best value and health outcomes from the funding available.

The draft Strategy reflects the views and priorities gathered from local people, staff and partner organisations over the last two years. It also aligns with the broader plans of local Health and Social Care Partnerships and national health policies.

Ross McGuffie, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, said: “The development of this Strategy marks a significant shift in how we think about and plan local health and care services. We’re not just focussing on traditional health services and facilities and the needs of existing patients – we’re looking at the bigger picture: how we support everyone to live well, how we reach people earlier and how we work together with our many partners to create healthier communities.

“Extensive feedback from local people, staff and partners has already helped shape the development of this important Strategy. However, we now want to give people an opportunity to review the draft version to ensure that it captures what matters most to them and provide any additional feedback. This feedback will inform the final version and ensure we deliver a Strategy that truly meets the needs of our many stakeholders and local communities.”

A new period of further engagement will run from 1 May to 15 June 2025, giving local staff, residents and partners organisations across Forth Valley another opportunity to shape the final version of the Population Health and Care Strategy. All feedback will be carefully reviewed and a summary of key themes will be published on the Board’s website.

Further information and a copy of the draft Strategy can be found on the NHS Forth Valley website www.nhsforthvalley.com/healthstrategy

Feedback can be submitted via a short online survey, by email to fv.fvplanningteam@nhs.scot or by post to NHS Forth Valley, Planning Team, Carseview House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4SW.

An Equality Impact Assessment has also been carried out to ensure the Strategy reflects the diverse needs of the local population.

The final version of the Strategy is expected to be submitted to the NHS Forth Valley Board for approval in Autumn 2025.