Tackling health inequalities and increasing fairness in Highland and Argyll and Bute is the focus of the 2024 Director of Public Health’s annual report.
Dr Tim Allison said: “We need to take action to reduce inequalities and if there is one overall recommendation from this report it is that we all take health inequalities seriously.”
In his fifth annual report to the NHS Highland Board, Dr Tim Allison, highlights the differences in health between communities, rich and poor, advantaged and disadvantaged, and those living in rural and remote areas. Dr Allison explains there have been encouraging changes to the population’s health such as the decline in smoking and its harmful effects. The data and information presented in this report, however, show that those who live in the most deprived circumstances experience the most ill health.
Sadly the issue of stigma and discrimination still persists and continues to remain a barrier to access for many individuals and families. This has been highlighted throughout the report but particularly in the chapter on minorities or underrepresented groups.
The report is only able to cover some areas of inequality and unfairness. It includes information about the overall health of the population including people’s life expectancy and how health has changed over several years, and it explains health inequalities, what they are and how they affect local people. This is followed by a section about ways of tackling health inequalities. The remainder of the report consists of chapters looking at different groups of people or different factors that relate to health inequalities including chapters on children, vaccination, the effects of alcohol and under-represented groups.
Finally in the report there are recommendations for action which are designed to help us all work to reduce inequality. By implementing, for example, models such as collaboration for health equity, place-based approaches and using data about inequalities to inform decision making we can all take action and hep to reduce health inequalities.
Dr Allison continued: "Statutory sector and non statutory sector partners should regularly review and monitor progress in reducing health inequalities. Specific to Highland, Argyll and Bute this should take account of rural and remote communities.
"All organisations and individuals should take action to address stigma and discrimination by adopting clear inclusive language, providing and supporting staff to undertake training on equality and diversity.
"NHS Highland should continue work to improve vaccination uptake especially among disadvantaged groups.
"NHS Highland should address health inequalities across the entire cancer pathway from prevention to rehabilitation."