Listen
Funding increase for health programme
06/03/2008
A radical health improvement programme aimed at reducing health inequalities is set to continue in Glasgow, Lothian, Lanarkshire and Tayside thanks to a new wave of funding announced today.
Keep Well projects in these communities where health needs are greatest will be supported by a £5 million package.
The investment includes £2.5 million in 2008/9 and £2.5 million in 2009/10.
Minister for Public Health Shona Robison made the announcement today to an audience of health professionals at the Anticipatory Care: Keep Well and Beyond Conference in Glasgow.
The Minister said:
"Keep Well is an exciting programme that transforms lives. It aims to tackle the roots of health inequalities between the most and least deprived populations in Scotland and deliver health care services as locally as possible.
"The first of the wave one health projects was due to cease screening from the middle of this year, and I am delighted to announce a new wave of financial support.
"The funding will enable these NHS Boards to continue their sterling work, and help to ensure the hardest to reach people in our communities are provided with responsive health care.
"Keep Well services mean more direct and targeted interventions than ever before. These are world leading services, aimed at those with high risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diet, smoking, alcohol misuse and inactive lifestyles. Most importantly, we are reaching the hardest to reach populations in our communities."
The first wave of Keep Well operates in Community Health Partnerships in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Tayside health boards. A second wave has began in Fife, Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian and further CHPs in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting this type of approach with £12.5 million per year until 2010.
Well North adopts a similar model and targets deprived communities in the Highlands and Islands, taking into account the unique disperson of deprivation in remote and rural communities.
The conference is being held to promote the work being done by the Scottish Government funded Keep Well project and similar anticipatory care projects. The conference will share the lessons learned so far from the project and discuss the future shape of anticipatory care in Scotland.