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
Name_______________________________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Organisation______________________________________________________________________
Phone number____________________________________________________________________
Email address_____________________________________________________________________
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?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What role can health and other public
services play in tackling health inequalities?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
Are
there any specific policies, initiatives or research evidence from Scotland, UK
or internationally that you would propose to tackle health inequalities?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What can be done within current devolved
arrangements to tackle health inequalities?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. How could we use further devolved powers to
help tackle health inequalities?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What mechanisms can be deployed to better
join up policy and public services to tackle health inequalities?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. What can be done to tackle the Inverse
Care Law in health and other public services?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Is democratisation of health services
important in tackling health inequalities?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. How could community development efforts
be better supported to tackle health inequalities?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. What other ideas/thoughts do you have to
help assist in tackling health inequality in Scotland.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please return to
Tommy Kane
Room MG11
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Tel 0131 348
6897
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