Health Inequalities Commission - Consultation Open!

Dear Friend

Perhaps Scotland’s greatest current and most pressing issue is our lingering shame in relation to continuing health inequalities.  Health inequalities are the unjust differences in life expectancy (how long we live) that are observed across our communities, cities, and country – differences determined by socioeconomic position or circumstances, which are determined by the unfair distribution of income, wealth, and power. Tackling that inequality in health and disease and in life and death is, arguably, the greatest challenge we face as a society.

It is against this background that I have commissioned a policy review into health inequalities, which I hope will develop concrete policy recommendations. The Reference Group for the Review agreed an overarching vision of the commission – to make tackling health inequalities a top priority and to propose a suite of policies for action. The Commission will have the following aims:

1.      To understand the scale and depth of health inequalities; thoroughly clarifying both the manifestations of health inequalities and their social, political and economic determinants.

2.      To examine ways, across health and other public services to tackle the “Inverse Care Law” and ensure resources are allocated proportionate to need.

3.      To consider the short, medium and long term policies needed to tackle health inequalities (recognising current and possible future constitutional arrangements).

4.      To propose and cost specific policies that would help tackle these deep seated problems. This should take into account current spending realities, but could also consider what could/should be done with reallocating and reprioritising resources or under a financial situation that differs from the current arrangement; it should also look at what could be achieved with both more generous settlements than those in place presently.

5.      To consider how and where cross-portfolio work could/should take place to tackle health inequalities.

This review intends to take evidence from all who wishes to contribute. The consultation questions are attached below this letter and include questions that people/organisations may wish to think over prior to submitting to the review. Please feel free to submit responses to the questions. We would also encourage you to submit further evidence such as research papers, statements from you or your organisation and any other supporting evidence you deem appropriate.

If you wish to discuss any of these matters please do not hesitate to get in touch. Please submit written evidence by email (if possible) to my parliamentary researcher Tommy Kane at tommy.kane@scottish.parliament.uk by the 31st of May 2014.

I look forward to hearing from you on this most important of subjects.

Yours Sincerely

Neil Findlay MSP (Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-Being)

Health Inequalities Review Guidance

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1.      What is the character of health inequality in Scotland/your area? What do health inequalities mean/how are they manifested in the lives of communities and families across Scotland?

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2.      What role can health and other public services play in tackling health inequalities?

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3.      Are there any specific policies, initiatives or research evidence from Scotland, UK or internationally that you would propose to tackle health inequalities?

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4.      What can be done within current devolved arrangements to tackle health inequalities?

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5.      How could we use further devolved powers to help tackle health inequalities?

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6.      What mechanisms can be deployed to better join up policy and public services to tackle health inequalities?

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7.      What can be done to tackle the Inverse Care Law in health and other public services?

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8.      Is democratisation of health services important in tackling health inequalities?

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9.      How could community development efforts be better supported to tackle health inequalities?

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10.  How could resource allocation (this could be geographic and in other budget planning terms) to health and public services be re-allocated to tackle health inequalities?

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11.  What other ideas/thoughts do you have to help assist in tackling health inequality in Scotland.

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Please return to Tommy Kane

Room MG11

Edinburgh

EH99 1SP

Tel 0131 348 6897

Tommy.kane@scottish.parliament.uk

                                                                                   

Together We Can - Care

In addition to the report of the Devolution Commission, Scottish Labour published a policy vision at its conference, 'Together We Can'.

The care section sets out the challenges facing Scotland as summarised in this info graphic.

While the paper makes a number of commitments on the care workforce, waiting lists, bedroom tax and no privatisation, the big idea is a review of the health and care system 'Beveridge 21'. As the paper says: "Just as the first Beveridge Report focused on tackling the five big problems of the time, described as “want, disease, squalor, ignorance and idleness’, so Beveridge 21 will examine the root causes of health inequality, not just the symptoms".

Again these commitments are summarised in this info graphic.

The Shadow Health Secretary, Neil Findlay MSP has established two Commissions. One to look at health inequalities, chaired by our own Dr David Conway - and another to look at social care. The focus is not on further analysis, but rather on solutions.

Scottish Labour's policy process for the 2016 manifesto is now underway. This paper is a good start on the journey towards a radical manifesto to develop a health and care system that is fit for the 21st Century.

Healthier Scotland - The Journal

The latest edition of our policy journal - Healthier Scotland, is now available online.

SLP Conference Motion 2014 - Time to Care

Scottish Labour Party Conference – March 2014

Socialist Health Association Scotland – Contemporary motion

Time to Care  

Conference believes that a priority of the Scottish Government should be urgent action to maintain and improve the standards of care provision to elderly and vulnerable people.

Conference notes that care services are coming under increasing strain with too few staff being asked to deliver services with insufficient time to care while facing cuts in their pay and conditions of service.

In UNISON’s ‘Scotland it’s Time to Care’ report, care workers explain in their own words the reality of social care in Scotland today. They tell us the service they provide is not sufficient to meet the needs of elderly and vulnerable people they care for. Either in terms of the time they can spend or the quality of care they can provide.

An increasing number of care workers are being placed on zero-hour and nominal-hour contracts, which like blacklisting has serious consequences for service user and staff safety. Conference therefore welcomes the inquiry into zero-hour contracts by the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee.

Conference also believes that fair pay for care workers, including the Scottish Living Wage, is essential to raise standards, reduce turnover and ensure continuity of care. Conference therefore notes with dismay the rejection by SNP MSPs at the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on March 12^th of Labour amendments to the Procurement (Scotland) Bill which would make the payment of the living wage a requirement in public contracts.

Conference believes that care services will be only be of a sufficient standard when they are  designed in conjunction with users, adequately resourced and delivered by adequately paid staff with sufficient time and training to do their jobs. Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Labour party to campaign for:

·         The Scottish Living Wage as a contract requirement to help the recruitment and retention of staff and support continuity of care;

·         Improved training to ensure that care is delivered by properly qualified staff;

·         Proper employment standards including ending the abuse of zero and nominal hour contracts;

·         Adequate time to care in every care visit.

Those who rely on care services deserve nothing less.