We all know that action to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Scotland is essential if we are to protect lives but we need to do so in a way that minimises unintended impacts on health, particularly for the people who are most marginalised and excluded. Taking a human rights based approach to the recovery of services and renewal of society during the COVID-19 pandemic can help us do that. VHS is part of a multi-agency, cross-sector group led by Public Health Scotland that has been working on these issues, and on 22nd September 2020 the group published its report: Inclusion Health Principles and Practice – Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19 setting out how this might be done. The aim is to help prevent further increases in inequality in our communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed just how many people in our communities experience disproportionately worse health and wellbeing due to poverty, inequality and disadvantage. This has shown itself in both the increased incidence of COVID-19 and the negative impacts of control measures like social distancing and shielding on people who were already marginalised, excluded or multiply disadvantaged.
As VHS knows only too well from all our evidence gathering from the voluntary health sector throughout the pandemic, these negative impacts on people include increased mental health problems, economic hardship, increased exclusion from mainstream services, a lack of access to sources of support and information, and difficulty acting on the health advice due to their circumstances. Housing, income and employment, poor health and/or caring responsibilities are examples of areas of their lives that may be affected. The danger is that these non-viral impacts may be continuous and long term as the pandemic impacts on the social and economic recovery and future delivery of public services.
People’s human rights can be affected by the measures put in place to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health, a right to housing, work and education, food, safety and security. Human rights based working, including better participation through lived experience, the AAAQ Framework and PANEL principles, can provide a basis to plan and deliver policies and services that promote equality and reduce inequalities.
Claire Sweeney, Director of Place and Wellbeing at Public Health Scotland said:
“Public Health Scotland is committed to embedding an equality and human rights approach across the work we do and collaborating with our partners to do the same. We are working to reduce inequalities and the occurrence of multiple deprivation, marginalisation and exclusion, and to ensure that people who do experience these are able to access the services and support that they need.”
Claire Stevens, Chief Executive at VHS and Secretary said:
“COVID-19 has exposed and amplified the scale of inequalities and their impact on health, above all for those who were already marginalised from mainstream services or experiencing multiple deprivation. A rights based approach to social and economic renewal and to the recovery of services is crucial if we are to prevent the gap widening even further. Throughout the pandemic the voluntary and community sector has continued to stay close to, and work hard for, those in greatest need, so we commend the new report and Public Health Scotland’s commitment to a cross-sectoral, partnership approach to the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead.”