Key indicators on Scotland's health and the performance of parts of the health service were published. A third of children aged 12 in Scotland were overweight in 2001-02 - 18 per cent were obese and 10-11 per cent were severely obese. More than a quarter of Scottish women smoked at the start of pregnancy. The number of babies breastfed up to at least 6-8 weeks was increasing: but, at 36.5 per cent, it was below the target of 50 per cent set for 2005.
Source: Clinical Outcome Indicators, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (0131 623 4300)
Links: Report (pdf) | QIS press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A paper set out the issues involved in attempting to improve Scotland's relatively poor performance on health.
Source: Andrew Lyon, The Fifth Wave: Searching for health In Scotland, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Dec
A strategy was published (for consultation) for improving Scotland's poor sexual health record, along with the results of a supporting research project.
Source: Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland: Sexual health and relationships strategy, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566) | Sexual Health In Scotland: Attitudes, lifestyles and the changing epidemiology of pregnancy, abortion and sexually transmitted infections, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Summary (pdf) | Summary | Research summary (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Nov
An official working group report examined the needs of people in Scotland with co-occurring substance misuse (including alcohol) and mental health problems. It called for education on the problems that drugs and alcohol could cause and greater understanding of mental health; 'firm but fair' means of crime prevention, management and justice; earlier detection of abusive experiences, by facilitating disclosure and acceptable intervention; early intervention and support; and the right conditions to enable participation in the community, including positive education experience and peer support.
Source: Mind the Gaps: Meeting the needs of people with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2003-Nov
A progress report was published on efforts to improve healthcare for ethnic minorities in Scotland.
Source: Fair Enough? Fair For All Progress Report: Analysis of race equality schemes and fair for all action plans, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Briefing
Date: 2003-Nov
A research report identified the support needed by local health services in Scotland to better meet the needs of individuals from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Source: Towards a Healthier LGBT Scotland, INCLUSION Project (Stonewall Scotland/Scottish Executive Health Department) (0141 204 0746)
Links: Report (pdf) | Citizenship 21 press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A official working group proposed improvements in ways to provide services for people in Scotland suffering from co-occurring drug and alcohol misuse and mental health problems.
Source: Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse/Scottish Advisory Committee on Alcohol Misuse, Mind the Gaps: Meeting the needs of people with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Oct
The Scottish Executive published a discussion paper on possible reform to fostering and adoption law.
Source: Alexandra Plumtree, Choices for Children in Fostering and Adoption: Discussion paper on legal issues, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A report recommended the introduction of a 'resource use measure' tool in Scotland to promote fairer access to nursing and personal care resources for older people, and improve equity of resource allocation. The tool would group individuals according to a standardised measure of relative need.
Source: Report on the Development of a Resource Use Measure (RUM) for Scotland, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2003-Sep
A report called for a redesign of community nursing, primary care and child health surveillance systems in Scotland, to provide a comprehensive and consistent framework for assessing children s health needs.
Source: Making it Work for Scotland s Children: Child health support group overview report 2003, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2003-Sep
The Scottish Executive published an action plan on mental health. Key priorities for the period to 2006 were to raise awareness and promote mental health and well-being; eliminate stigma and discrimination; prevent suicide; and promote and support recovery.
Source: National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being: Action plan 2003-2006, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2003-Sep
A new book provided a comprehensive and up-to-date study of health policy and health services development in Scotland over the previous twenty years. It said that since 1997 the new Labour government had sought a third way based on partnership , and during this period networks had emerged as a preferred organisational model: but in reality there were no clear-cut points of change.
Source: Kevin Woods and David Carter (eds.), Scotland s Health & Health Services, Nuffield Trust, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Nuffield Trust press release (Word file)
Date: 2003-Sep
The Scottish Executive began consultation on proposals to devolve responsibility for local health services to new community health partnerships (part of the NHS Reform (Scotland) Bill).
Source: Community Health Partnerships: Consultation paper on guidance, Scottish Executive (0131 556 2242)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jul
A report by the chief medical officer for Scotland focused on the health of children and women. It said that the evidence was that women in Scotland and, in particular, young women needed more incentive and support to take their own health seriously.
Source: Chief Medical Officer, Health in Scotland 2002, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2003-Jun
The report was published of a project which explored people's understanding of the term well-being , and how the capacity to promote it could be developed by community groups and people working in health and community services.
Source: Building Community Well-Being: Exploration of themes and issues, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Scottish Executive published a Bill designed to 'modernise' the National Health Service structure in Scotland. NHS trusts would be abolished; new community health partnerships would be established; and there would be a duty on health boards to involve the public more closely in planning, developing and operating healthcare services.
Source: National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Bill (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Scottish Executive published a Bill designed to make local health services more responsive to the specific health needs of local communities, and to introduce a 'fairer and more flexible contract' for family doctors.
Source: Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Bill (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
The Scottish Executive published (for consultation) a working group report on ways to improve the equipment and adaptations provided in Scotland for disabled and older people.
Source: Equipped for Inclusion: Report of the Strategy Forum - Equipment and adaptations, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A new health watchdog in Scotland published its first report. It said progress was being made in establishing systems that made sure patients received the highest quality of care: but no National Health Service trust in Scotland was able to achieve the top assessment category for any of the standards assessed.
Source: Safe and Effective Patient Care: Generic clinical governance standards - National overview, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (0131 623 4300)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2003-May
The Scottish Executive published details of a Bill to reform the National Health Service in Scotland. NHS trusts would be abolished, with the aim of cutting bureaucracy and inefficiency by establishing single local health systems. 'Community health partnerships' would be established, which would devolve management responsibility to frontline services. A new duty would be placed on Health Boards and Special Health Boards to ensure public involvement in the health service.
Source: Press release 28.5.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-May
A report said that fostered children in Scotland were experiencing too many moves between homes, leading to disruption and instability.
Source: Voices from Care, Fostering Network (info@fostering.net)
Links: Press release | BBC report
Date: 2003-Apr
The Scottish Parliament passed the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Bill. The Bill will establish a new Mental Health Tribunal; ensure that advocacy is available to all persons with mental disorder; strengthen the Mental Welfare Commission to ensure that people with mental illness and learning disabilities are properly protected; provide a new compulsory treatment order, which will allow care and treatment to be tailored to the personal needs of each patient, whether in hospital or in the community; place duties on local authorities to promote the well-being and social development of all persons with a mental disorder; and place additional safeguards on the use of certain medical treatments.
Source: Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Act | SE press release | SAMH statement
Date: 2003-Mar
A report was published of a project aimed at exploring the extent of relative and absolute change in a range of health and well-being measures for small geographical areas across Scotland.
Source: Geographical and Time Trend Analyses: Questionnaire survey of selected public organisations in Scotland, Public Health Institute of Scotland (0141 300 1010)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
The Scottish Executive published a framework for progress in four priority areas of health: stressing the importance of infant and child health to later life; helping young people to make healthy choices; engaging employers in improving health at work; and new 'community planning partnerships' bringing together health services, local authorities and voluntary organisations at local level.
Source: Improving Health in Scotland: The challenge, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
The Scottish Executive announced proposals for increased public involvement in the National Health Service in Scotland, including the establishment of a Scottish Health Council. The Council would have three main functions: ensuring that health boards monitor the experiences of patients and patient/public involvement; providing expertise, experience and information about good practice on public involvement; and ensuring that patients and carers have an opportunity to express their views.
Source: Press release 4.3.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
The Scottish Executive outlined an action plan in response to an official report on the mental health needs of children and young people. The report recommended improving service provision through a focus on the rights of young people, and on prevention and early detection.
Source: Needs Assessment Report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Public Health Institute of Scotland (0141 300 1010) | Press release 28.3.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2003-Mar
The Scottish Executive published a White Paper on the future of the National Health Service in Scotland, describing it as 'a blueprint to transform Scotland s health and its health services'. NHS trusts would be abolished, and there would be a new guarantee on treatment time.
Source: Partnership for Care: Scotland's Health White Paper, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: White Paper (pdf) | White Paper | Summary (pdf) | Summary | Press release
Date: 2003-Feb
The Scottish Executive launched a scheme under which local authorities will be given more money to provide meals for primary school children, in return for a limit on the amount of fattening food served. By 2004 all primary schools will have to follow 'nutrient standard' guidelines. The launch coincided with publication of the final report of an expert group on school meals.
Source: Press release 19.2.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Press release | Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2003-Feb
A report examined the distinctive health needs of ethnic minority communities in Scotland.
Source: Fair for All, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2003-Feb
Following a 2002 review report, the Scottish Executive said that if the existing child protection system continues to fail children, it will be replaced. An action plan was launched including a three-year reform programme for child protection services, an expert team to oversee reform and tackle poor performance, a new inspection system to ensure reform is delivered, a 'children s charter' setting out the support that every child has the right to expect, and increased investment in helplines.
Source: Press release 18.2.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Press release | Review report
Date: 2003-Feb
