Meeting health and care challenges
We are entering a time of great change in health and social care and Wigtownshire, with its unique needs and circumstances, is at the cutting edge.
A new approach has proved necessary, partly due to recruitment issues, positive developments like more people living longer and the rising cost of maintaining increasingly sophisticated health and care services.
In addition, a new national GP contract means some tasks doctors traditionally carried out will be undertaken by other specially-trained health professionals.
As this project will directly affect many of my constituents I'm monitoring progress carefully and found a recent briefing very informative.
With funding in place and the linking of the NHS and local authority care roles, everything seems in place for communities and health and social care providers to jointly design a structure to meet local needs.
June Watters, locality manager for health and social care, has a vision of a structure which will make best use of all available resources to meet the specific needs of Wigtownshire.
It will involve the NHS, council, third and independent sectors all working closely together.
This challenging development will be overseen by an independent chairperson and driven forward by a project manager.
Key features are likely to include two health and wellbeing centres, one being in Stranraer, and a system where over-65s with long-term conditions can receive help from 'community navigators' to take a greater role in managing their health and well-being.
While health and social care are ultimately Scottish Parliament matters I believe all local representatives should take an interest in these important developments.
Cheers to a bright future
Imaginative small businesses are increasingly becoming a more important component in the Dumfries and Galloway economy.
After more than a year of successful trading the Crafty Gin Distillery in Wigtown Road, Newton Stewart is already an important stop on the tourism map.
I was delighted recently to meet up with manager Craig Rankin who works alongside his friend and founder Graham Taylor.
The premises were built using local fixtures and fittings and the business now employs seven full-time staff.
They distil their own alcohol before flavouring it for gin – only one of five in Scotland to do so.
Their flagship gin, called 'Hills and Harbour,' uses many local ingredients, including needles from spruce trees and seaweed from the Galloway coastline.
The latest expansion, the Tree Bar and Cafe, has quickly become an added attraction for the area and also sells a range of quality local produce.
I wish Crafty Gin Distillery every success for the future.
Festival success story
One success story which over almost 20 years has helped seen the fortunes of Wigtown change for the better is 'Scotland's Book Town' status.
An annual highlight is the town's book festival which takes place from September 21 to 30.
I learned that preparations are well advanced when I met recently with Festival treasurer George Moore, trustees' chairwoman Sandra McDowall and operational director Anne Barclay.
I was interested to learn more than 200,000 visitors had attended the Festival since 1999 and hotels and guest houses as far away as Dumfries have benefited.
With more than 200 book-related events, it is rightfully hailed as one of the UK's best-loved literary attractions being described by The Guardian as a festival some 'become possessive about.'
Praise for a job well done
Having visited our local NHS hospitals and many other facilities I have always been impressed by the care and dedication demonstrated by staff, be they medical, nursing or support.
I'm sure many Free Press readers will join me in congratulating them during this summer of NHS 70th birthday celebrations.
