Cohesive, resilient communities are the key factor in the battle against health inequalities and cannot be achieved without strong cross-sectorial partnership working and sustained, long-term investment. These themes were explored at length when Voluntary Health Scotland and eight other intermediary bodies met with the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities on 16th April 2013.
The Taskforce was convened in November 2012 to build on the 2008 Equally Well report, to examine new evidence, and to make recommendations about what still needs to happen if the health gap between the richest and the poorest is to be narrowed.
Chaired by Public Health Minister Michael Matheson, the Taskforce includes the Chief Medical Officer, clinicians, health experts, local government representatives and five other Ministers. It is expected to report during the summer of 2013.
Voluntary Health Scotland worked with other intermediaries to produce a briefing paper outlining the unique and crucial role that the community and third sectors play in tackling health inequalities. At the meeting Michael Matheson invited VHS Chief Officer Claire Stevens to open the discussion and contributions followed from Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Coalition of Care and Support Providers Scotland, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, Community Health Exchange, Community Food and Health Scotland, Voluntary Action Scotland, Scottish Healthy Living Alliance, and Senscot.
Read the briefing paper here: Third Sector – briefing paper – to the Ministerial Task Force on Health inequalities – final – 16 April 2013