An annual review was published of the Scottish programme for improving mental health and well-being, setting out progress made over the previous year.
Source: National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being: Annual Review 2003-2004, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Dec
The Scottish Executive published a plan for tackling National Health Service waiting times.
Source: Fair to All, Personal to Each: The next steps for NHS Scotland, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Dec
A Bill was published to ban smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland. It also made provision for free eye and dental checks for all by 2007.
Source: Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | SE press release (1) | SE press release (2)
Date: 2004-Dec
The Scottish Executive outlined plans for a ban on smoking in public places, to take effect by spring 2006. A research report estimated the number of deaths from the major smoking-related causes of death in Scottish adults which could be attributed to passive smoking. A second report examined workplace smoking policies in Scotland.
Source: Press release 10 November 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | David Hole, Passive Smoking and Associated Causes of Death in Adults in Scotland, Scottish Executive | Sally Malam, Helen Barnard, Tracy Mackey and Rachel Roberts, Workplace Smoking Policies in Scotland, Scottish Executive
Links: SE press release | Hole report (pdf) | Malam report (pdf) | Consultation responses (pdf links) | ASH press release | COSLA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Nov
A report of a project to monitor the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 said that the legislation was yielding real benefits for adults with incapacity and those who cared for and about them. (The Act provided a range of measures to safeguard the property, financial affairs and welfare of adults who were unable to act or make decisions themselves because of mental disorder or inability to communicate as a result of physical disability.)
Source: Jan Killeen and Fiona Myers (with others), The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000: Learning from Experience, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2004-Oct
A report examined the views of looked-after young people in Scotland regarding their education. It said that the commitment to closing the opportunity gap between looked-after young people and those living at home had rarely been so strong.
Source: Pauline Boyce, A Different Class?: Educational attainment - The views and experiences of looked after young people, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Oct
A research review aimed to identify initiatives to tackle delayed discharge in Scotland, and set this information in the context of existing policy and evidence on the nature and extent of problem.
Source: Gill Hubbard, Guro Huby, Sally Wyke and Markus Themessl-Huber, Research Review on Tackling Delayed Discharge, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2004-Oct
Over the period 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2004, the number of people in Scotland receiving free personal care in a care home increased by 15 per cent; the number receiving free nursing care also increased by 15 per cent; and the number of people in receipt of free personal care at home increased by 74 per cent. (Free personal/nursing care was introduced in Scotland on 1 July 2002.)
Source: Personal/Nursing Care, Scotland 2004, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report | SE press release (1) | SE press release (2)
Date: 2004-Sep
An audit report criticized the Scottish Executive for failing to demonstrate how increased funding for the National Health Service in Scotland, and changes in service delivery, were benefiting patients.
Source: An Overview of the Performance of the NHS in Scotland, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Audit Scotland press release (pdf) | SE press release | BMA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Aug
A cross-sectional analysis of the Scottish Household Survey 2001 examined a range of neighbourhood factors for links with three health outcomes and two health-related behaviours. The results supported the hypothesis that the neighbourhood had a multi-dimensional impact on health. There was also some evidence that the relationship between neighbourhood factors and health varied according to the population subgroup, although not in a consistent manner.
Source: Alison Parkes and Ade Kearns, The Multi-dimensional Neighbourhood and Health: A cross-sectional analysis of the Scottish Household Survey, 2001, CNR Paper 19, Centre for Neighbourhood Research (0141 330 5408)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Aug
An audit report looked at the way in which local councils in Scotland planned, purchased and reviewed their older people s services; and at implementation of national policy by councils and their health partners. It concluded that councils and their health partners should redouble their efforts to ensure there were sufficient services to meet the future needs of Scotland s ageing population.
Source: Commissioning Community Care Services for Older People, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jul
The Scottish Executive published a framework for the promotion of healthy eating.
Source: Eating for Health: Meeting the Challenge - Co-ordinated action, improved communication and leadership for Scottish food and health policy 2004, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Jul
The National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill was approved by the Scottish Parliament. The Bill included clauses to complete the process of dissolving Trusts in Scotland, and allow for the establishment of new Community Health Partnerships.
Source: National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2004-May
The Scottish Executive began consultation on a review of the children s hearings system. It said it was committed to maintaining the core principles of the system. (The system was created in 1971, dealing with children who need care and protection, are involved in offending, or both.)
Source: Review of the Children's Hearings System: Consultation pack, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Consultation document (pdf links) | SE press release
Date: 2004-Apr
The 2003 annual report of Scotland's Chief Medical Officer highlighted tobacco use as the greatest risk factor to the health of Scotland's people.
Source: Health in Scotland 2003, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Apr
A report presented a review of research literature relating to the range and quality of community care services for older people in Scotland.
Source: Charlotte MacDonald, Older People and Community Care in Scotland: A review of recent research, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Date: 2004-Apr
A report considered alternative methods of measuring health inequalities in Scotland, and sought to identify possible targets which could be set for reducing health inequalities.
Source: Measuring Inequalities in Health Working Group, Inequalities in Health, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
A report by a committee of MSPs reviewed the National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill. It said that the proposal to abolish NHS trusts in Scotland had been generally welcomed in evidence, but that more would need to be done to ensure effective joint working between NHS agencies.
Source: Stage 1 National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill, 3rd Report 2004, SP Paper 90, Scottish Parliament Health Committee, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2004-Feb
A journal article examined some of the key problems that had prevented many local authorities in Scotland from offering direct payments as a mainstream service option for disabled people.
Source: Charlotte Pearson, 'Keeping the cash under control: what's the problem with direct payments in Scotland?', Disability & Society, Volume 19, No 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Feb
A report looked at the evidence that those living in relatively deprived areas of Scotland were less likely to access healthcare than those in affluent areas. It developed three methods for making an adjustment to the resource allocation formula designed to ensure equal access for equal need. It recommended that the existing formula should be reviewed in order to establish whether it had achieved its existing objective; and whether its objectives should be extended to addressing inequalities in health outcome (as in England).
Source: Alex McConnachie and Matt Sutton, Derivation of an Adjustment to the Arbuthnott Formula for Socioeconomic Inequities in Health Care, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Feb
A report identified the different approaches in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to various combinations of markets, local communities, professionals and managers as models for the National Health Service.
Source: Scott Greer, Four Way Bet: How devolution has led to four different models for the NHS, Constitution Unit/University of London, available from Imprint Academic (01392 841600)
Links: Constitution Unit press release
Date: 2004-Feb
A report examined the healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities in Scotland.
Source: People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland: Health needs assessment report, NHS Scotland (0141 300 1026)
Links: Summary (pdf) | NHS Scotland press release
Date: 2004-Feb
The Scottish Executive published an action plan which set out a variety of goals to meet some of the common needs identified by people with sensory impairments.
Source: Community Care Services for People with a Sensory Impairment: An action plan, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Plan | Plan (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jan
The Scottish Executive published an action plan on tobacco. It contained a range of measures, including: a consultation on smoking in public places; an additional 4 million to help Scots stop smoking; action on prevention and education, supplemented by a communications programme to inform people of the dangers of smoking, both to themselves and others; and further controls to reduce the availability of cigarettes to children and young people.
Source: A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland: Improving Scotland's health - the challenge: Tobacco control action plan, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Jan
