The Health Policy Officers Network or HPON is a peer support network for health policy officers working in small to medium sized charities. The group is administered jointly by Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS), and the Queens Nursing Institute for Scotland (QNIS), and meets regularly to discuss key … [Read more...] about Health Policy Officers Network
Responding to Mental Health in Scotland – A 10 year vision
During August/September 2016 the Scottish Government consulted on their proposed framework and priorities to transform mental health in Scotland. The VHS response focused around 3 priorities that we think can help deliver any transformation: giving the third sector an explicit role at the core of … [Read more...] about Responding to Mental Health in Scotland – A 10 year vision
Rob’s blog: Health Policy Officers Network gets underway
Recently, the Queens Nursing Institute Scotland and VHS agreed there was potential for a networking group of policy officers based in health. Working in smaller organisations can be difficult, in terms of limited capacity to keep up to date with the latest developments. A network would provide … [Read more...] about Rob’s blog: Health Policy Officers Network gets underway
Catherine’s blog – some parting words…
Today marks my final day with VHS and, although my time here has been relatively brief, a lot has happened in the past 8 months in health policy world and there’s lots more coming up too. It seems appropriate to wrap things up by highlighting some key areas of work on the VHS radar over the coming … [Read more...] about Catherine’s blog – some parting words…
VHS study – scoping community links workers
The Scottish Government has commissioned VHS to carry out a scoping exercise to inform the development of a national Community Link Workers programme. This is to honour the SNP 2016 election manifesto pledge: ‘Scotland’s most deprived communities need additional support, so we will recruit at least … [Read more...] about VHS study – scoping community links workers
VHS Membership Survey 2016 – Results Report
In May 2016, VHS sent out a membership survey to its 156 member organisations. 87 completed surveys were received, covering 57 member organisations (37% response rate). A small number of surveys were completed anonymously - those completed in this way are not included in the organisational … [Read more...] about VHS Membership Survey 2016 – Results Report
Catherine’s blog – Realistic medicine: I thought the doctor(s) knew best too…
"Doctors generally choose less treatment for themselves than they provide for their patients" That's what Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Catherine Calderwood highlighted to delegates at the final plenary of the NHS Scotland Event 2016. Realistic medicine at its most basic, is about doctors and … [Read more...] about Catherine’s blog – Realistic medicine: I thought the doctor(s) knew best too…
Claire’s Blog – Measuring the Success of the Government’s Health Debate
Cabinet Secretary for Health Shona Robison led the Scottish Government’s Parliamentary debate on health on Tuesday 7th June. VHS went along to the public gallery to listen, mainly to hear the Cabinet Secretary but also to get the measure of our new MSPs’ interest and perspectives on health. Shona … [Read more...] about Claire’s Blog – Measuring the Success of the Government’s Health Debate
Katie’s blog: Making the choice to eradicate health inequalities
Inequality is a moral issue, Martyn Evans, Chief Executive at the Carnegie UK Trust, told those assembled at VHS’s and Open University’s joint Understanding the Gap conference in Stirling on 1st June 2016. The conference set out to explore what the latest research tells us about health … [Read more...] about Katie’s blog: Making the choice to eradicate health inequalities
Clear Pathway exploring NHS and third sector volunteering
Work with volunteers in an NHS setting? From a third sector organisation? Then find out more about Clear Pathway! Launched as part of Volunteers' Week, Clear Pathway is a collaborative project exploring safe, effective and person centred volunteering in NHS settings, with the focus on … [Read more...] about Clear Pathway exploring NHS and third sector volunteering
