scottish huntingtons association SHA support from scottish government framework lead

The Scottish Huntington’s Association has appointed a National Care Framework Lead. Alistair Haw joins SHA from Prostate Cancer UK, where he led the charity’s award winning communications and public affairs work in Scotland.

The role – which is funded and backed by the Scottish Government – will be to coordinate the development of a National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease to help ensure families affected by the condition are given the best possible care, information and support regardless of where they live in Scotland.

The appointment builds upon extensive preparatory work undertaken by the Scottish Huntington’s Association, its supporters and partners over several years – including the publication of draft local care frameworks in two NHS Board areas. A central part of the work will be to build upon these solid foundations by consulting with and pulling together the expertise of everyone who has an interest in making a success of the National Framework, including HD families and a full range of health and social care professionals and organisations.

Alistair said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work on this extremely important project and look forward to listening to, and working with, all interested parties to ensure that the framework is the best it can possibly be for families affected by this appalling condition.”

It is anticipated that it may take a year to develop and launch the overarching National Care Framework for HD, and a further two years to develop more detailed localised Frameworks for each NHS Board area thereafter.