SHA Scotland has long argued
that Local Government has a central role to play in reducing health inequality
in Scotland. We therefore welcome COSLA and NHS Scotland’s new guide for
councillors to support them in this role.
The Christie Review highlighted
the importance of reforming public services to ensure that public sector bodies
work together and focus more money on preventative spending rather than trying
to fix what has already gone wrong. This will both save money in the long run
and en-sure that money is spent effectively.
The guide’s key suggestions for
action to address health inequalities:
·
Provide services
universally but with scale and intensity that are proportionate to the level of
disadvantage
·
Prioritise
disadvantaged groups
·
Provide
accessible services ( i.e. good transport links)
·
Offer intensive
support
·
Do not only
target geographical areas defined as deprived: you will miss the vulnerable who
live elsewhere
·
Take into consideration
that rural areas have people experiencing inequalities that may be harder to
identify
·
Local policy
should not be discriminatory
·
Ensure that local
agencies work together with common aims and measures to reduce health
inequalities
Trade unions will find the
section on councillors’ responsibilities as employers in relation to healthy
working lives useful. The most commonly reported reasons for workplace absence
are musculoskeletal disorders and stress, depression or anxiety. The paper
recommends the Healthy Working Lives Awards Programmes step by step guide to achieving
a healthier workplace and highlights work done at Inverclyde council like
smoking cessation classes, mental health support groups and even walking routes
to work.
Overall a very useful resource.
