At VHS, we are thrilled, but not surprised, to see health equity and the shift to prevention as central pillars of the ambitious Public Health Scotland (PHS) 10-year strategy. These were key aspirations raised by our members and shared with PHS colleagues through the strategy engagement process.
The commitment to leading through collaboration, specifically with the community and third sector, is also welcome and reflects recent proactive engagements with PHS colleagues, including PHS Chair Ally Boyle MBE.
Tejesh Mistry, Chief Executive of VHS, stated that:
“Paul Johnston, CEO and Ally Boyle MBE (Chair) of Public Health Scotland continue to show valuable leadership across sectors to address health inequalities in Scotland. We welcome the focus on inequality, progressing a prevention-focussed approach, striving to create and enable healthy living and above all, the genuine ‘side by side’ collaboration that we know is required to improve population health.”
The strategy also clearly aligns with the Population Health Framework, published last year, and provides tangible insight into how PHS will work with partners to support the implementation of this. It also aligns with many of the asks in our Manifesto for Health Creation, specifically around health equity, prevention, and the importance of being data-informed.
The strategy shares the belief that ‘together we can change the direction of Scotland’s health’; a sentiment we share at VHS. We wholeheartedly accept the invitation to join PHS in driving the change Scotland needs, and we look forward to working with colleagues at PHS over the next ten years and beyond.
