The Scottish Parliament’s Participation & Communities Team (PACT) hosted an online Parliamentary Awareness Event for the Health Policy Officers Network (HPON) on Thursday 31 March at 11:00-12:00. This provided policy officers with the opportunity to learn about how best to engage with the … [Read more...] about Health Policy Officers Parliamentary Engagement Event
New funding to boost the Scottish Community Link Worker Network
We are delighted to announce that the Scottish Government Primary Care Division has awarded VHS a grant to support further development of the Scottish Community Link Worker throughout 2022-23. The new funding enhances VHS's capacity to support and develop the Network, at a time when link working is … [Read more...] about New funding to boost the Scottish Community Link Worker Network
Consultation Response: Health Inequalities Inquiry
Health, Social Care & Sport Committee Inquiry on Health Inequalities The committee is undertaking an inquiry on health inequalities covering: progress towards tackling health inequalities in Scotland since 2015 any cross-sectoral work undertaken over that time period to address social … [Read more...] about Consultation Response: Health Inequalities Inquiry
Consultation Response: Draft National Planning Framework 4
Scottish Government Consultation The Scottish Government’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) sets out how their approach to planning and development will help to achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045. We welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the draft NPF4 consultation and … [Read more...] about Consultation Response: Draft National Planning Framework 4
Andrea’s Blog: Supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds with their alcohol problems
Specialist Alcohol Service Helps to Break Down Barriers Alcohol causes significant health and socials harm to the Scottish population. People from the most deprived areas in Scotland experience greater inequalities in harms caused by alcohol – they are four times more likely to die from … [Read more...] about Andrea’s Blog: Supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds with their alcohol problems
Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care spotlights link working
Alison Leitch, Community Link Worker Network Area Lead for North Edinburgh, was recently part of a panel presenting evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care. The Committee's MSPs spent a large part of their … [Read more...] about Inquiry into Alternative Pathways to Primary Care spotlights link working
A Chance to Change Primary Care and Tackle Health Inequalities
Published on 14th March 2022, a new Scottish Government report sets out 23 recommendations for actions to be taken to help primary care play a stronger role in reducing health inequalities in Scotland: Report of the Primary Care Health Inequalities Short Life Working Group. VHS is a member of the … [Read more...] about A Chance to Change Primary Care and Tackle Health Inequalities
Understanding the lived experience of COVID-19 for marginalised communities
Written by the Inclusion Health Lived Experience Research Working Group, on behalf of Inclusion Health Partnership. Background Research was conducted by the Inclusion Health Partnership to develop and deepen the understanding of the lived experience of marginalised communities and how Covid-19 … [Read more...] about Understanding the lived experience of COVID-19 for marginalised communities
Action urged on underpayment of children’s social care workers
VHS is urging MSPs to ask Ministers to address the pay gap between the adult social care workforce and the children’s social care workforce. An inequity has been created because children’s services have not been included in the recent pay uplift for social care workers, announced by the Scottish … [Read more...] about Action urged on underpayment of children’s social care workers