Stephen Whiston

Stephen has worked in the NHS and Social Care for 37 years moving to Argyll & Bute in 1997 from Blackburn, Lancashire.

During his time in Argyll and Scotland he has undertaken a number of senior general, project and business management and planning positions both at Health Board and operational unit level. He is currently the Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology since the inception of the HSCP.

Stephens, portfolio covers planning and performance of health and care services and strategic lead for digital and technology modernisation and innovation in services. He has a clear focus on bridging strategy and operational planning and service deliver, transforming services whilst all the while focusing on outcomes and performance.

His extensive network, incorporates regional, national and local forums and he has very strong interfaces with community planning, council services and works very closely with colleagues in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde for secondary care services. Stephen is an executive member of Scotland national HSCP Strategic Planning, Performance Operational Group, with its key focus of influencing the development and implementation of the National Care Service in Scotland.

Stephens Technology portfolio, means he has budgetary and strategic leadership responsibility for NHS / HSCP IT and technology as such has produced the HSCP Digital Modernisation Strategy 2022-2025. This is our road map to implement Scotland’s Scotland Digital Health and Care Strategy “Enabling, Connecting and Empowering: Care in the Digital Age” October 2021

Technology, include responsibility for the “NHS commercial fleet” in Argyll and Bute, Stephen is leading the modernisation of the fleet, including moving to a  carbon neutral fleet via electrification and evidence based deployment and utilisation of vehicles using telematics. An Important innovation in this area is exploring the use of “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” drones to augment and improve our clinical logistics to our remote, rural and Island communities.