The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Next step for Executive's health improvement plan

08/11/2002

The next steps in the Executive's on-going health improvement drive were outlined today.

Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said

1. improving the health of children from conception through childhood
2. creating better life circumstances for teenagers
3. accelerating health improvement through workplace-based initiatives
4. and stepping up the work of community-based health projects

will be key features of an improvement programme to be launched later this month.

At the Association for Public Service Excellence's Healthy Communities Conference in Carnoustie, Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:

"Building on the foundations laid by Towards a Healthier Scotland, and maintaining the effort to improve lifestyles, enhance life circumstances and target priority health areas, the Executive is now preparing launch proposals for the next phase of our national drive against the root causes of ill-health.

"In pressing forward with that cause, modern and innovative public services - notably from local government and the NHS - will be vital allies for individuals and communities, particularly in areas facing the most difficult circumstances.

"Full details of that programme will be announced in the coming weeks. However, I can confirm that during the coming years, we will be aiming to increase the momentum of our health improvement agenda.

"Central to that will be work to close the gap between privileged and disadvantaged communities which have lower life expectancy levels for both men and women.

"We already know that health throughout life is powerfully influenced by experiences in early childhood - indeed even from conception. That is why we will be seeking to enhance the work done by NHS Boards, local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide support to families with young children - particularly those living in less affluent areas.

"Secondly, we will be seeking to improve help available to teenagers during the often tough, transition years into adulthood. Adolescence is a time of great change and impressionability, where the type of support on offer can influence whether youngsters fulfil their full potential or enter into potentially health damaging behaviour such as drug abuse.

"It is therefore vital that we ensure our young people get the support they need and deserve.

"For adults, we will be seeking to maximise the opportunities for health improvement in the workplace. With most people spending around a third of their lives at work, we need to get better at releasing the potential for improving people's health while they are at work.

"This will not just reap benefits for the individual concerned, but also the economy. A happier, healthier workforce will help improve business growth and performance - something which will become increasingly more important due to Scotland's ageing population.

"Finally we will be aiming to step up the work of community-led health initiatives, particularly in areas of social deprivation.

"This will build on the wide range of work already undertaken with communities, from our Social Inclusion Partnerships, national health demonstration projects and network of Healthy Living Centres, to the 400 community food initiatives supported by the Scottish Community Diet Project, and many other pieces of work supported by the Executive, local government, the NHS, voluntary sector and community groups themselves.

"Detailed proposals for this these developments will be announced within in the next few weeks. However, a start has already been made, with our announcement in the Scottish budget that we are doubling the money allocated specifically to health improvement, by providing additional resources of £173m during the three years of the 2002 Spending Review.

"We believe that by doubling our investment and redoubling of our commitment to health improvement, we can work with communities to lift Scotland from the bottom end of the European 'health league'."

The Scottish Budget more than doubled the money allocated specifically to health improvement. Over the three years of the Spending Review, additional resources of £23 million, £50 million and £100 million across the Executive will be focused on improving health.