Scotland Patients Association

About Us

The Scotland Patients Association is an independent self-funding association which is there to help and support all patients in Scotland who need and request our help. It is a privilege to work on behalf of patients, especially when they come to us, often at their most vulnerable, very tired, weary and feeling powerless to cope. Many issues, simple and complex, arise out of contact with the NHS, the Private sector or the Local Authorities. We will consider all cases with the utmost confidentiality and try our best to express the feelings of the patients and what concerns them.

We will be pleased to work with the NHS, the Scottish Executive, the media, all other patient orientated organisations and charities, in fact anyone in order to improve the quality of life of patients. When patients are ill they need a service or understanding with the minimum of delay.

Office Bearers

Chief Executive Dr Jean Turner MB. ChB. DA.

Jean qualified in Medicine at Aberdeen University in 1965 and trained in Anaesthetics. She returned to Glasgow to work as an Anaesthetic Registrar at the Southern General Hospital. In 1975, after ten years in Hospital Service, she tried General Practice in Springburn and stayed for twenty five years. Because of her concern for the changes in the delivery of NHS services, local to where people stay, she continued her campaign to save inpatient services at Stobhill Hospital in the North of Glasgow. She was asked to stand for election, never having been in politics before or having been in a political party. She was elected as the Independent Save Stobhill MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden from 2003-2007. Only her passion for patient care could have induced her to enter the political world. In her new role as Chief Executive of Scotland Patients Association Jean has the opportunity to continue with her commitment to patient care.

Chairperson Margaret Watt

Margaret has been with SPA since 1985 and has worked closely with Margaret Davidson as Chair. She has a long distinguished career in business and forming charitable organisations such as “Scot HealthCare”. She was Chief Executive and Secretary, then Scottish National Manager of the “Hospital Saturday Fund” and finished as National Manager for Scotland for “Medicash”. She has a passion and energy to help others and is outstanding in marketing. Her work is essential to SPA because it is a self-funding association.