Giving women, children and families a new voice at the top table

Published: 06/12/2022 09:11

NHS Grampian is to welcome Geraldine Fraser as the organisation’s new executive lead for its Integrated Family portfolio later this month.

Geraldine, who joins the health board from her role as partnership manager with Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, has a background as a solicitor specialising in family law. She continues to offer pro bono legal advice to women, children and families on all aspects of child and family law in a voluntary role with the Scottish Child Law Centre.
 
As lead for the Integrated Family portfolio, Geraldine will be responsible for improving children, women’s and family health across Grampian. She will lead the planning, resourcing, performance management, budget management and operational delivery of services – including maternity, paediatrics, gynaecology and breast screening – and is looking forward to the opportunity to make a difference and help services across health, social care, education, the community and third sector work as effectively as possible together. She will oversee the move into the new Baird Family Hospital, support the development of services at Dr Gray’s Hospital and drive forward ambitious plans for improved access to services as part of the national Women’s Health Plan.

She said: “I will be providing a voice for children, women and families at Chief Executive team level across the system of health and care. I’m keen to raise awareness of the issues affecting women, children and young people and families, involve them in the design of services and work together with colleagues across a range of services to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes.

“I care passionately about women and children’s health and wellbeing. We need to invest in our children and young people so they grow up healthy, and we can support and empower women and families to access the information, advice and support they need to make the right decisions for themselves.

“My experience within Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership has given me a clear understanding of the health inequalities that exist and the need for change. It has been great speaking to some of the teams I will be working with already and asking them ‘what are the opportunities?’ Everyone has suggestions and I feel really hopeful – not just as a leader but as a mother and a member of the local community – about harnessing some of that and working together with women, children and families to best support their health and wellbeing.”

Portfolios, rather than more traditional management structures, were introduced by NHS Grampian last year in an effort to break down silos between community-based and hospital-based services. This approach has a focus on staff empowerment, adaptability of how services are delivered, and increased autonomy, creativity and collaboration among colleagues which can ultimately lead to improved patient safety and service efficiency.

Caroline Hiscox, Chief Executive of NHS Grampian added: “We are very much looking forward to Geraldine joining Team NHSG and know she will be a huge asset, a real advocate for women, children and families, and an experienced leader who can work with teams on service redesign.

“There are opportunities for services to work together to identify where and when women, children and families need support, and help parents to access the right pathways for both them and their children. Geraldine is passionate about working in partnership with people with lived experience, and with colleagues and communities, driving forward the priorities in the NHS Grampian Plan for the Future.”