Karen McGuigan has been appointed as NHS Lanarkshire’s new child health commissioner (CHC).
Karen has worked for NHS Lanarkshire for 23 years, holding various roles, most recently as a public health consultant.
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, places a requirement on health boards through children’s services plans to identify local needs, priorities and actions to develop solutions that address the needs of the children, young people and families they support.
This aligns with Scotland’s approach to promoting and improving the health and wellbeing of every child through Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC).
In her role as CHC, Karen will advocate both locally and nationally for the rights and interests of children and young people to be recognised, promoted and acted on in the development and implementation of policies, strategies and services.
She will also have a lead role in working with key stakeholders to identify the health needs of children and young people and ensure equity of access to services in order to reduce health and social inequalities.
A big part of this new role is in leading on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation)(Scotland) Act 2014 legislation that will come into force in July 2024.
Karen said: “I’m delighted to take up this new role. I will build on existing relationships and make new ones with motivated colleagues who work with children, young people and their families. I also look forward to working with our children and young people to champion their rights.”
