The Scottish Government published a strategy for kinship and foster care, aimed at ensuring that children and families received personalized care which met their complex needs over time. There was scope for 'considerable improvements' to the existing arrangements for the recruitment, training, and support of carers.
Source: Getting It Right for Every Child in Kinship and Foster Care, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Strategy | Scottish Parliament debate | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Dec
The Scottish Government published an action plan for health and well-being, designed to improve patient participation, healthcare access, and public health. It included plans for reforming the primary care system. Patients would get walk-in access at pharmacies for a range of services, including treatment of minor injuries and access to sexual health screening.
Source: Better Health, Better Care: Action Plan, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Plan | SG press release | BMA press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Dec
An article compared the spending needs for local authority social services in Scotland and England. It concluded that either at least one country assessed needs with seriously flawed formulae, or the two countries had different conceptions of need.
Source: David King, Matthew Pashley and Rob Ball, 'Scotland's social services spending needs: an English view', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 25 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
The watchdog in Scotland for the rights of children and young people said that an exaggerated risk aversion on the part of those responsible for the residential care of children and young people in Scotland 'blighted' the lives of the young people concerned and hampered their development.
Source: Playing It Safe? A study of the regulation of outdoor play for children and young people in residential care, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People (0131 558 3733)
Links: Report | SCCYP press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Nov
The Chief Medical Officer in Scotland published his annual report for 2006. Scotland's health was improving: but support and intervention in early life were essential if the nation were to close the gap between affluent and deprived areas.
Source: Health in Scotland 2006: Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SG press release
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined the spatial characteristics of the relationship between deprivation and mortality rates in Scotland. Deprivation was found to affect mortality levels not only within the same areas but also in spatially proximate areas.
Source: Sanjeev Sridharan, Helena Tunstall, Richard Lawder and Richard Mitchell, 'An exploratory spatial data analysis approach to understanding the relationship between deprivation and mortality in Scotland', Social Science & Medicine Volume 65 Issue 9
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
The Scottish Government published a paper which outlined the proposed future direction for mental health improvement and population mental health for the period 2008-2011.
Source: Towards a Mentally Flourishing Scotland: The future of mental health improvement in Scotland 2008-11, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Paper
Date: 2007-Oct
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals to introduce independent scrutiny of proposals for major changes in local National Health Service services. It set out key principles for independent scrutiny including: a presumption against centralization, a rigorous and robust examination of the evidence for service change, and a need to identify that a full range of options had been considered and examined.
Source: Independent Scrutiny: The independent examination of proposals for major change in NHS services – A public consultation, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Consultation document | SG press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Scottish Government published a Bill to modernize Scotland's public health legislation.
Source: Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | SG press release
Date: 2007-Oct
A minister in the Scottish Government reportedly said that charges for prescriptions were to be abolished within four years.
Source: Comments by Nicola Sturgeon (Deputy First Minister), BBC report, 22 October 2007
Links: BBC report | Telegraph report | Patients Association press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Scottish Executive published a discussion document designed to inform the development of its health and well-being action plan, to be published by the end of 2007.
Source: Better Health, Better Care: A Discussion Document, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2007-Aug
An audit report said that the National Health Service in Scotland could improve the care it gave to people with long-term illnesses by targeting resources better, and further developing community-based services.
Source: Managing Long-term Conditions, Audit Scotland for Accounts Commission and Auditor General (0131 477 1234)
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Aug
A report said that the level of support that young people in Scotland experienced on leaving care was variable. Certain kinds of services, such as supported accommodation, appeared to be more effective than accommodation with less access to on-site support. The ability to sustain tenancies was affected by high costs and expenses, too little support, loneliness, and a lack of independent living skills.
Source: Susan Elsley, Kathryn Backett-Milburn and Lynn Jamieson, Review of Research on Vulnerable Young People and Their Transitions to Independent Living, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Aug
A report said that the number of older people in Scotland receiving personal care had increased by almost two-thirds since it was made free.
Source: David Bell, Alison Bowes and Alison Dawson, Free Personal Care in Scotland: Recent developments, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report | JRF Findings | JRF press release | BBC report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jul
A study found that many of the negative aspects of health and lifestyle in Glasgow and the surrounding area were due to levels of deprivation. However, there were also some aspects that were unexplained by deprivation: these included poorer mental health, bad diet, and excess alcohol consumption among men.
Source: Linsay Gray, Comparisons of Health-related Behaviours and Health Measures Between Glasgow and the Rest of Scotland, Glasgow Centre for Population Health (0141 221 9439)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jul
An article examined the Scottish policy of free personal care for older people. For clients and informal carers it remained popular, but was part of a service-led model of provision which did not reflect their own views of their care and support needs.
Source: Alison Bowes and David Bell, 'Free personal care for older people in Scotland: issues and implications', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jul
The Scottish Executive announced that the legal age at which cigarettes could be bought would be increased from 16 to 18 in October 2007 (following the example of England and Wales).
Source: Press release 5 June 2007, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | BMA press release
Date: 2007-Jun
The Scottish Executive announced that an independent review would be established to investigate the level and distribution of resources to councils for the delivery of free personal care. Action was required in order to enhance delivery of free personal care - to ensure that all those entitled to it received it, and that they did so without undue delay.
Source: Press release 14 June 2007, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: SE press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined a project (in a Glasgow housing estate) which used participatory action research to involve a deprived community in improving the quality of local primary care services. Although successful in creating a partnership between academic researchers and lay researchers, and increasing participation by local people in evaluating services, the impact of the study in terms of immediate action taken over specific issues was 'modest'.
Source: Peter Cawston, Stewart Mercer and Rosaline Barbour, 'Involving deprived communities in improving the quality of primary care services: does participatory action research work?', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 7
Date: 2007-Jun
A report examined the use of 'children in need' in Scottish local authority policy and practice. Only 5 out of 32 local authority integrated children?s services plans made explicit use of children in need and used it as an organizing concept.
Source: Kay Tisdall and Vicky Plows, Children in Need: Examining its use in practice and reflecting on its currency for proposed policy changes, Childhood Studies/University of Edinburgh (0131 650 3930)
Date: 2007-May
An article examined the origins, nature, and impact of free personal care in Scotland, providing a narrative review of the policy to date.
Source: Helen Dickinson, Jon Glasby, Julien Forder and Lucinda Beesley, 'Free personal care in Scotland: a narrative review', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 37 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-May
An article examined how key actors involved in research-policy dialogues on health inequalities in England and Scotland understood the processes involved.
Source: Katherine Smith, 'Health inequalities in Scotland and England: the contrasting journeys of ideas from research into policy', Social Science & Medicine Volume 64 Issue 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
An Act was made in Scotland to prevent unsuitable people working with children and vulnerable adults. A single executive agency would be formed to support the new vetting and barring scheme.
Source: Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2007-Apr
Royal assent was given to an Act made in Scotland designed to ensure that only healthy, nutritious meals and snacks were served in schools.
Source: Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2007-Apr
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill designed to ensure that only healthy, nutritious meals and snacks were served in schools.
Source: Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283) | Debate 14 March 2007, columns 33103-33181, Scottish Parliament, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: MSP debate | Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum
Date: 2007-Mar
A report examined the effectiveness of drug education in schools in Scotland. Virtually all pupils received drugs education. There was much good practice in drug education, but more could be done to enhance its effectiveness.
Source: Martine Stead et al., Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Drug Education in Scottish Schools, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report | Summary | Literature review | SE press release
Date: 2007-Mar
Researchers conducted an epidemiological analysis of suicide in Scotland during the period 1989-2004. Male suicide rates increased by 22 per cent and female suicide rates by 6 per cent during the period. The higher the level of socio-economic deprivation, the higher the standardized suicide mortality ratio. The suicide rate was significantly higher in the lowest social class than in other social classes in all local areas, irrespective of the degree of socio-economic deprivation in the area where people lived.
Source: Stephen Platt, Paul Boyle, Iain Crombie, Zhiqiang Feng and Dan Exeter, The Epidemiology of Suicide in Scotland 1989-2004: Examination of temporal trends and risk factors at national and local levels, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2007-Mar
A study in Scotland examined children's and young people's views, concerns, and experiences regarding their sexual health and well-being. Concerns were often interwoven with experiences and relationships with peers and partners, normative values within the peer group, and lay communication about sexual issues within peer settings. Specific attention was required to challenge the stigmas that threatened young people's sexual health and wellbeing, such as that surrounding homosexuality.
Source: Kathryn Backett-Milburn et al., Children and Young People's Concerns about Their Sexual Health and Well-Being, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Mar
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 was given Royal assent. The Act gave new powers, and a statutory responsibility, to local agencies to investigate any risk of harm or abuse to adults living in care homes or in the community.
Source: Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Parliament, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2007-Mar
The Scottish Executive published (following consultation) an action plan for improving the health of children and young people in Scotland.
Source: Delivering a Healthy Future: An action framework for children and young people's health in Scotland, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Consultation responses
Date: 2007-Feb
A report said that death rates in more deprived areas of Scotland were falling more slowly than in affluent areas. The age-standardized mortality rate in Scotland fell by 30 per cent for men and 25 per cent for women between 1981 and 2001: but male mortality rates in Clydeside were 17 per cent higher than the Scottish average in 2001, compared with only 9 per cent in 1981.
Source: Alastair Leyland, Ruth Dundas, Philip McLoone and Andrew Boddy, Inequalities in Mortality in Scotland 1981-2001, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit/University of Glasgow (0141 357 3949)
Links: Report | MRC press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Feb
A report by a committee of MSPs endorsed the general principles of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill, which would make health a central component to schooling and introduce nutritional requirements: but it called for the proposed legislation to apply to the pre-school and independent sector.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Bill, 2nd Report 2007, SP Paper 718, Scottish Parliament Communities Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release
Date: 2007-Jan
A literature review evaluated existing research into the processes through which a wide variety of different groups with multiple or complex needs engaged, or did not engage, with services to resolve their problems.
Source: Ann Rosengard, Isla Laing, Julie Ridley and Susan Hunter, A Literature Review on Multiple and Complex Needs, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2007-Jan
A report by a committee of MSPs backed the general principles of the Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill - a private member's Bill designed to create directly-elected health boards.
Source: Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill, 1st Report 2007, SP Paper 712, Scottish Parliament Health Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SP press release | BMA press release | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan
A ministerial working group made recommendations designed to improve the education of looked-after children in Scotland. They included improving training for teachers and other professionals, and a national 'champion' who would work with councils.
Source: Looked After Children & Young People: We Can and Must Do Better, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2007-Jan
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 was given Royal assent. The Act was designed to reform and extend the adoption system in Scotland. It placed a legal duty on each local authority to provide an adoption service.
Source: Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Parliament, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act
Date: 2007-Jan
