This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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CMO's annual report
22/03/2005
Scotland may be seeing early signs of shedding its Sick
Man of Europe tag, Chief Medical Officer Dr Mac Armstrong
said today.
Presenting his fifth and final
annual report,
he said:
"We have lived for too long with this legacy of one of
the most appalling health records in Europe. And we are
still living with it.
"As my report makes clear, there with many serious and
growing problems particularly with alcohol abuse and also
health inequalities.
"But I think we are now seeing some early signs of
recovery. Lifting the smoking blanket from our pubs, clubs
and restaurants is undoubtedly the most significant measure
in a generation to improve our nation's health.
"Beyond that, I sense a the start of wider cultural
change in our country. More and more Scots are viewing
health as something to be enjoyed.
"They are realising that simple measures everyone can
take - like going for a walk, having a swim, eating
sensibly - all contribute to feeling good, living well and
living longer.
"We know this is going to be a long haul and there is no
short-term fix. It will take a generation to turn this
around and fully address the ills of Scotland's health
record.
"To make progress we have to change our attitudes to
alcohol. It is great to enjoy a pint of beer or a glass or
two of wine but constantly overdoing it brings far more
serious consequences than a hangover.
"Health inequalities are widening and we need to tackle
this head on. A lot of work is underway by the Executive,
the NHS, local councils and community groups. The new
Community Health Partnerships will have a key role in
leading this work.
"We have to work together to close the health inequality
gap where people in more affluent areas enjoy much better
health than those in deprived areas.
"That is why the legislation on smoking is so important
because of the benefit it will bring to poorer communities
where smoking rates are higher.
"The health benefits to all of making public places
smoke free are priceless. This in the long-term be a
significant step towards banishing Scotland's image as the
Sick Man - and Sick Woman - of Europe.
"I am very proud that this legislation has been
introduced in my time as Chief Medical Officer.
"I'm delighted that the Executive has had the courage to
take this on and that so many politicians from all
perspectives have had the guts to back it. There can be no
better legacy they can leave for our children."
Tackling health inequalities is a major aim of the
Scottish Executive's health improvement policies set out in
the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland (1999) and
Improving Health In Scotland: The Challenge (2003).
Details of the legislation to introduce smoke-free
public places can be found at
www.smokefreescotland.com
The Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems (2002) can be
found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/docs/paap-00.asp
The Scottish Executive has allocated funding of £8
million over two years for treatment, support and
prevention activities of alcohol abuse.
We aim to reduce health inequalities by increasing the
rate of improvement across a range of indicators for the
most deprived communities by 15% by 2008.
The indicators are:
- Coronary Heart Disease mortality in people under 75
years old
- Cancer mortality in people under 75 years old
- Adults smoking
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Teenage pregnancy
- Suicides in young people
The Scottish Executive is providing £15 million over two
years to three NHS boards with the highest deprivation
concentration (Argyll and Clyde, Tayside and Greater
Glasgow) to focus on access to and use of primary and
secondary healthcare services.
The Scottish Executive is investing £1 million in the
Glasgow Centre for Population Health to investigate the
"Scottish Effect" and the links between poverty and ill
health.
Improving the health of people living in deprived
communities is one of the main aims of the Scottish
Executive's anti-poverty programme, Closing the Opportunity
Gap (CtOG).