I'm delighted to join the Health Policy Officers Network (HPON) which brings together expertise from across the health sector. Collaborative working brings great strength to policy positioning and is an excellent way of building knowledge and expertise, as well as networking with fellow peers. HPON … [Read more...] about Laura’s Blog: Becoming Co-Convenor of the Health Policy Officers Network
HPON – Key Note Briefing for meeting held on 24th June
The second meeting of 2020 was held via zoom on 24 June. Members at the meeting heard from Claire Menzies, Clerk to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee and her colleague, Leoncha Leavy, Community Outreach Team about their consultation, "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equalities and … [Read more...] about HPON – Key Note Briefing for meeting held on 24th June
COVID-19: A pandemic in the age of inequality
While some have commented that the impacts of COVID-19 are felt across society, that the virus disregards social class, gender, and ethnicity, it is clear that this misses a crucial point of how the virus impacts the most vulnerable in our society. COVID-19 has not only highlighted the pre-existing … [Read more...] about COVID-19: A pandemic in the age of inequality
Loneliness and Self-Isolation: Longterm Effects of the Covid-19 Crisis
With the lockdown now exacerbating people’s sense of loneliness, Source News spoke to Kiren Zubairi about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the health and wellbeing of marginalised groups, and the potential for a long-term public health crisis quite apart from that caused by the virus. In the … [Read more...] about Loneliness and Self-Isolation: Longterm Effects of the Covid-19 Crisis
HPON: Key Note Briefing for meeting held on 29th April 2020
The first meeting of the Health Policy Officers Network in 2020 was held via zoom on 29 April and offered an opportunity for members to discuss issues around COVID-19, conduct some policy horizon scanning and suggest some topics for future meetings. You can read the key notes from the meeting … [Read more...] about HPON: Key Note Briefing for meeting held on 29th April 2020
VHS Briefing: Impact of COVID-19 on Voluntary Health Organisations
VHS has conducted a survey of our member organisations and wider network to help establish the impact COVID-19 is having on the health and wellbeing of people supported by organisations and on organisations’ own ability to continue supporting people. This briefing sets out the top-line results of … [Read more...] about VHS Briefing: Impact of COVID-19 on Voluntary Health Organisations
COVID-19 and Voluntary Health Organisations Survey
Voluntary Health Scotland are committed to working with voluntary health organisations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We know that organisations are facing a range of challenges as they strive to continue to deliver support and services to vulnerable people and as such are working with Scottish … [Read more...] about COVID-19 and Voluntary Health Organisations Survey
Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Discussion Paper and Evidence
Since 2019 VHS has collaborated with Support in Mind Scotland and colleagues from across the third and public sectors, to scope what happens to people with mental health conditions other than or alongside dementia once they become 65. Issues we have been exploring include under-diagnosis, … [Read more...] about Falling Off a Cliff at 65: Discussion Paper and Evidence
An Overview of VHS’s Associate Membership 2020
In December 2019 VHS surveyed our 145 associate member in order to build a profile of their professional interests and their reasons for membership of VHS. Full VHS Members are voluntary health organisations, but all current Associate Members are individuals. Associate Membership is free of … [Read more...] about An Overview of VHS’s Associate Membership 2020
VHS response to the Health and Sport Committee Inquiry into Social Care
VHS have submitted our response to the Health and Sport Committee Inquiry into Social Care. Our response has been informed by a roundtable held with member organisations and a presentation from the Assistant Clerk to Health and Sport Committee who is leading on the Inquiry, Susan Brown. We have … [Read more...] about VHS response to the Health and Sport Committee Inquiry into Social Care