Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, launched a consultation on plans for greater public involvement in the NHS and direct elections to health boards earlier in 2008.  The consultation closed on 1st April 2008. 

The proposed Local Healthcare Bill sought to enhance the role patients and the public play in decisions about how local health services are designed and delivered. The consultation asked for views on how this might best be done.

During the consultation, NHS Highland hosted a Citizens' Panel, where 12 individuals from across Highland and Argyll & Bute came together to hear cases ‘for’ and ‘against’ Direct Elections to Health Boards and debated this and the wider involvement issue.  A write-up of the day’s debate was submitted to the Scottish Government as part of the formal consultation.  (see report above)

You can also read the evaluation report of the Citizens' Panel.