Building on the success of the Catalysts for Change projects in 2015, QNIS is keen to fund another series of projects looking at the broad area of reducing health inequalities. QNIS, or the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, is a charity committed to promoting excellence in community nursing. … [Read more...] about Angie’s Blog: Seeking Catalysts for Change
Frances’ blog: Short lives of mentally ill a national scandal
In Glasgow earlier last month 120 delegates to a national health conference organised by Support in Mind Scotland and Bipolar Scotland tackled the totally unacceptable fact that people with mental illness die up to 20 years younger than their peers, primarily due to serious physical health … [Read more...] about Frances’ blog: Short lives of mentally ill a national scandal
Katie’s Blog – Make health inequalities your business
We all have a part to play in tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that have beset Scotland’s communities. However, it is the third sector’s established and trusted relationships within these communities and its understanding of the lived experience of health inequalities that makes its … [Read more...] about Katie’s Blog – Make health inequalities your business
Gordon’s Blog- Making connections on health and social care integration
Given the high profile nature of Audit Scotland’s work, it’s not unusual to be invited to address stakeholders at an event. So I’ll admit that I was nervous in accepting Voluntary Health Scotland’s invitation to speak at two workshops on our recent update on the progress of health and social care … [Read more...] about Gordon’s Blog- Making connections on health and social care integration
Katie’s Blog: Reflections Health and Social Care Integration Workshop with Audit Scotland
When Audit Scotland published its first audit of health and social care integration at the end of last year, some read its frank acknowledgements of the risks and challenges ahead as “a lot of doom and gloom.” However, Gordon Neill, Senior Auditor, Audit Scotland, told those assembled for VHS’s … [Read more...] about Katie’s Blog: Reflections Health and Social Care Integration Workshop with Audit Scotland
Catherine’s Blog – Food: it’s about so much more than nutrition.
Edinburgh Cyrenians' recent breakfast conversation really got me thinking. The event 'Something to eat, someone to eat with' hit home in a powerful way the message that yes, food is fuel, but beyond that it's also companionship, learning, conversations, love and so much more. For some it's steeped … [Read more...] about Catherine’s Blog – Food: it’s about so much more than nutrition.
Lucy’s blog: rights and recovery for transformational change
This is a critical time for mental health in Scotland. Funding crises and shrinking services mean that many people who experience mental health problems are unable to get the support they need, when they need it. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of people are affected by mental health problems as a … [Read more...] about Lucy’s blog: rights and recovery for transformational change
Lesley’s blog: the day the Minister visited Cope Scotland
It was a typically dreich and misty early November morning as I arrived in Drumchapel on my way to Cope Scotland. I found myself in a car park behind a pub and a row of shops. Finding a side entrance I rang the bell and the door was opened by a cheerful young man, Andrew - a staff member at Cope … [Read more...] about Lesley’s blog: the day the Minister visited Cope Scotland
Katie’s blog: Closing the Gap conference reflections
”We all have a piece of the jigsaw but are seeing the picture differently,” Hilda Campbell of COPE Scotland said of efforts to tackle health inequalities at Voluntary Health Scotland’s annual conference last week. “Now, we need to move from looking at our piece of the jigsaw and starting to put … [Read more...] about Katie’s blog: Closing the Gap conference reflections
Claire’s blog: how to actively suppress health inequalities
VHS Chief Officer Claire Stevens writes: “Gentlemen, we have run out of money. It's time to start thinking” nuclear physicist Ernest Rutherford famously said. Addressing health inequalities shouldn’t be Mission Impossible, but we need to be bold and act as though time itself has run out - … [Read more...] about Claire’s blog: how to actively suppress health inequalities
