We are inviting Voluntary Health Scotland members to sign our Movement for Health Creation Open Letter which will be sent to new and returning MSPs following the election in May.
Scotland is facing a public health crisis. Healthy life expectancy in Scotland has been steadily decreasing for over a decade. The most recent figures show that, on average, people in Scotland will be in ill health before their 60th birthday. Scotland’s ageing population also means that the annual burden of disease facing our health services is forecast to rise by 21% before 2043. Given current public sector spending pressures, this is simply not sustainable.
As such, it is vital that Members of the Scottish Parliament are united in improving Scotland’s health. To do this, we must tackle widening health inequalities and focus on preventative solutions. We are calling for MSPs to support our four Manifesto for Health Creation asks:
- Create a Prevention-Centred Health System – Committing to a prevention-first approach, and building the system to successfully implement this, will support interventions that create health and relieve pressure on acute services.
- Prioritise Health Equity and the Right to Health – A rights-based approach would support prioritisation of the root causes of health inequality, specifically poverty, and person-centred approaches to health.
- Establish Third Sector Parity – Policy solutions which protect the third sector and its workforce, including volunteers, as vital and equal contributors in the delivery of public services will help to safeguard the future of the sector.
- Improve Health Measures and Datasets – A meaningful shift to prevention and health equity can only be achieved if national outcomes and indicators for health reflect this. It is therefore essential to ensure that health data is robust, accessible and focused on enabling health creation.
If you agree that MSPs need to prioritise health creation and health equity after the election, read and sign our draft open letter today! The more signatures we have, the greater the impact will be.
To sign the open letter, please complete the form below by the 7th May 2026.
