Fife NHS Board Candidate - Ken Cochran

My parents were both NHS doctors, pioneers in public health - my mother a Fife schools doctor, and my father a GP and clinician in the then Tayside Health Board.  A couple of years ago my father passed away having declined for a few years from dementia. I had been his care giver for a few years prior to that. He received excellent care from Fife NHS.
My wife is a cancer survivor, and I have chronic health conditions myself which are well monitored and treated by my GP  - we know first hand the value of good health care, especially the early detection and treatment of cancer and the value to our lives of caring and professional health services.
I am pleased to say that in their later years the NHS, which they had both pioneered and served so well, served them well.  As I cared for my father in his final years I was truly impressed by the caring and professional NHS staff who cared for him.  They were a credit to their profession and deserve our support.

As we get older our medical needs increase, little aches and pains can become debilitating conditions many of which respond well to early treatment; however the cost of the most effective medicines means that many senior citizens are not getting them.  There are also medicines which have been shown to slow the cognitive decline of dementia.  The earlier they are used the more effective they are. Similarly medicines for the treatment of arthritis and, when necessary joint replacement surgery, should be reqadily available if needed.

I would push for NHS Fife to be a leader in the care of our seniors - increasing quality of life and independent living.

I would also do my utmost to protect the services provided to senior citizens - services that enable them to live in their own homes with caring and professional support. Senior citizens should be enabled to live their lives in dignity and with the respect which is due them for their many years of contribution to society.  No elderly person should ever be made to feel a burden.  I oppose any moves which would pressure any person or professional to prematurely cause death.  Proper palliative care make this unnecessary.

Our senior years should be just that - times when we enjoy the fruits our labour - our children and grandchildren and when society supports and recognises the contributions that seniors have made and continue to make to us all.

For further details  please visit my campaign page.

To contribute to the discussion of health care in Fife please visit my Facebook Group

Please remember to vote - it is your way to have your say in improving the healthcare you receive !

Thank you,
Ken Cochran                      You can contact me by emailing  nhsvote@cupar.org

Thank you for your support

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