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About this document
WELCOME TO YOUR GUIDE TO THE BENEFITS OF TRANSPORT TO HEALTH PROMOTION AND IMPROVEMENT, AND VICE VERSA
This document is aimed primarily at health and transport practitioners, such as NHS Health Promotion teams, local transport planning officers, community planning partnerships and outdoor access officers.
The connection between the two 'separate' sectors will become clear as the many links between health improvement, health promotion and transport initiatives are explored, with a particular focus on how to incorporate physical activity into 'regular' travel, such as to and from work, or carrying out day-to-day chores.
Good examples of healthy travel across Scotland and the rest of the UK are illustrated throughout the text, along with practical advice from transport and health professionals that can be applied to future work programmes across Scotland.
The health sector in Scotland
Health care provision and promotion across Scotland involves a wide range of organisations. NHSScotland in the formal healthcare sector is just one, with Scotland's 32 local authorities and the voluntary sector each playing important roles.
Physical activity is now widely recognised as an important part of health provision. Many studies suggest that incorporating physical activity into a daily routine can help tackle health problems such as obesity, depression and diabetes - all of which are prevalent in Scotland.
Therefore, encouraging cycling or walking to work, school and other day-to-day activities is a good opportunity to promote health at both a policy and practical level.
The health sector has many competing priorities and promoting physical activity is just one of them. However it's important to remember that different areas of health promotion can be successfully brought together.
Emphasising the value of good diet and nutrition, for example, alongside healthy day-to-day activity helps to tackle root causes of diseases rather than just the symptoms.
The transport sector in Scotland
The main bodies responsible for local transport in Scotland are the 32 individual local authorities. Each has its own transport department, but the importance given to promoting healthy transport alternatives varies from council to council.
Joined-up thinking and practice in transport and health is not mainstreamed in Scotland. That said, there are some really good examples of successful joint working, some of which are illustrated in this booklet.
The 2004 'Transport White Paper' 1 was an important milestone in the health and transport debate. It paved the way for the promotion of healthy travel, targeted through the funding of cycling schemes and walking projects, and rolled out a 'Safer Routes to School' programme. The Paper also heralded the funding of 'School Travel Coordinators' throughout Scotland.
Scotland's new Regional Transport Partnerships have been awarded £1m from the Scottish Executive for the next two years. The funding is intended to encourage employers to develop sustainable transport plans and play their part in developing viable alternatives to car use.
To that end, each Partnership will appoint dedicated travel plan officers and be asked to develop a travel plan strategy to support the overall transport strategy for the region.
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