Read the latest news and blogs about the voluntary health sector and the issues that concern and involve it.
Guest blogs from external contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of VHS.
Tell Us Your News or Write a Blog
Health Policy Officers Parliamentary Engagement Event

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 …
Health Topic: Health Policy Officers NetworkNew 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 dev …
Health Topic: Health Inequalities | Scottish Community Link Worker NetworkConsultation 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 ov …
Health Topic: COVID-19 | Health Inequalities | Public HealthConsultation 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 c …
Health Topic: Health & Social Care Integration | Health Inequalities | Health Policy Officers Network | Public HealthAndrea’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 …
Health Topic: Health Inequalities | Scottish Community Link Worker NetworkScottish Community Link Worker Network: Demonstrating impact on health inequalities

On 29 March the Scottish Community Link Worker Network and Evaluation Support Scotland ran a short follow up session for those who had attended the training in December 2021 Demonstrating impact on health inequalities. The training was based on the res …
Health Topic: Health Inequalities | Scottish Community Link Worker NetworkInquiry 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 …
Health Topic: Scottish Community Link Worker NetworkA 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 Sho …
Health Topic: Health Inequalities | Scottish Community Link Worker NetworkUnderstanding 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 …
Health Topic: COVID-19 | Health Inequalities