Scotland’s health inequalities record is, quite frankly, abysmal. We hold the regrettable title of having the worst health inequalities gap in Western and Central Europe. This isn’t just a statistic. Behind the data lie lives shortened, potential stifled, and communities left behind.
At Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS), our members witness the reality of this every day. But we also see the solutions. Our wide-ranging membership spans the breadth of the third sector – from small, grassroots organisations embedded in local communities, to national charities working across the country. This gives VHS a unique vantage point to observe what’s working – particularly when it comes to early intervention, prevention, and person-centred care.
Our role is to shine a light on that good practice. We connect, we amplify, and we influence, especially in strengthening the links between the third and public sectors. And, through that, we help replicate success, so that innovation and effective models are not just confined to one postcode or one population group.
What change do I want to see by 2035?
I want Scotland to be brave and ambitious. I want us to believe -truly – that every person, regardless of where they are born or live, should enjoy the same chances for good health and wellbeing. A child born tomorrow should not inherit the same barriers faced by generations before them, simply because they were born on the “wrong” side of the health divide.
But Scotland’s health inequalities journey isn’t inevitable. We can change direction.
By 2035, I want to see Scotland committed firmly to a model of early intervention, rooted in communities, and underpinned by person-centred principles. That means every local and national policy decision – whether on health, housing, transport, education, or climate etc – must be taken with a clear understanding of its impact on health inequalities. And where those having a negative impact are halted.
Imagine a Scotland where we no longer debate why health outcomes are poorer in some communities, because we’ve already addressed the root causes. Where we are genuinely Getting it Right for Every Child, and setting up every individual with the building blocks for a healthy life.
What role does VHS have in leading this change?
VHS is not just a connector: we are a conduit for collective strength. We bring together the voices of our members – whether they are delivering mental health support in rural areas, supporting people with long-term conditions in urban centres, or championing unpaid carers across Scotland etc. Together, our members’ insights and experiences form a rich, powerful narrative of what works, and what Scotland needs to do next.
That collective voice must not be a quiet whisper, drowned out by bureaucracy or ignored by short-term thinking. It must be a ROAR FOR CHANGE clearly heard.
For, Scotland’s future – our ability to thrive as a nation – depends on our people living longer, healthier, happier, and more productive lives. Tackling health inequalities is not just a moral imperative – it’s a strategic one.
But the time to act is now. Not next week, next month or after the next Parliamentary election. So, let’s stop blaming Scotland’s health inequalities gap on our inherited past – and work together to start changing the future.
Christine Carlin is Chair of Voluntary Health Scotland.