An article examined a range of social, cultural, and health-related factors that might explain the high suicide risk in Scotland compared with England. Overall, the contribution of socio-economic deprivation and social fragmentation was found to be relatively small. Any attempt to reverse the divergent trend in suicide between Scotland and England would require initiatives to prevent and treat mental ill-health, and to tackle alcohol and drug misuse.
Source: Pearl Mok, Alastair Leyland, Navneet Kapur, Kirsten Windfuhr, Louis Appleby, Stephen Platt, and Roger Webb, 'Why does Scotland have a higher suicide rate than England? An area-level investigation of health and social factors', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 67 Number 1
Links: Abstract | BBC report
Date: 2012-Dec
An audit report in Scotland said that there were 'major differences' in the health and life expectancy of different groups of people in Scotland. The problem was complex, and addressing it required a range of public bodies working together effectively, not just the health services.
Source: Health Inequalities in Scotland, Audit Scotland
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | BMA press release | Cosla press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Dec
The report of an independent review (led by Peter Doran) set out a strategy for provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs in Scotland.
Source: The Right Help at the Right Time in the Right Place: Strategic review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs, Scottish Government
Links: Review report | Scottish Government response | Scottish Government press release | Capability Scotland press release | Children in Scotland press release | Cosla press release | NASUWT press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A paper examined what could be learned about self-directed support from existing research, related initiatives, and experience outside Scotland.
Source: Susan Hunter, Charlotte Pearson, and Sally Witcher, Self-Directed Support (SDS): Preparing for Delivery, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services
Links: Paper
Notes: The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Bill is under consideration by the Scottish Parliament.
Date: 2012-Nov
A report examined Scotland s mortality position relative to 19 other (mainly western European) countries. It highlighted concerns over levels of mortality among people aged 15–44 and older women.
Source: Bruce Whyte and 'Tomi Ajetunmobi, Still 'The Sick Man of Europe'? Scottish mortality in a European context 1950–2010: An analysis of comparative mortality trends, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Report | Summary | BBC report
Date: 2012-Nov
A report presented the findings from an audit and analysis of significant case reviews and initial case reviews conducted in Scotland since 2007.
Source: Sharon Vincent and Alison Petch, Audit and Analysis of Significant Case Reviews, Scottish Government
Links: Report
Notes: The purpose of a serious case review is to establish what lessons may be learned from a child welfare case about the way in which local professionals and organizations work.
Date: 2012-Nov
A report examined the experiences of fathers involved in the child protection system in Scotland. Professional responses to child protection concerns could marginalize fathers from services and more importantly from their parental role. This had serious implications for children's development and emotional well-being and was in contravention of their right to contact with both parents according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Source: Nick Smithers, Listening to Fathers: Men s experience of child protection in central Scotland, Circle (Family Service Unit Scotland)
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Nov
A new book examined the children's residential care sector in Scotland.
Source: Graham Connelly and Ian Milligan, Residential Child Care: Between home and family, Dunedin Academic Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Oct
A study examined the Scottish evidence for a link between social capital and health outcomes. People's level of social capital assets did, to varying degrees, predict their level of general health or mental well-being. Having regular contact with relatives, friends, and neighbours, was particularly associated with good or very good self-reported health.
Source: Rachel Ormston, Social Capital and Health: Findings from the Scottish Health Survey and Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, Scottish Government
Date: 2012-Oct
The Scottish Government published its first national parenting strategy. The strategy set out a range of commitments including: additional investment to improve access to information, advice, and support for parents throughout their children's lives; legislation to provide a dedicated first contact- such as a health visitor – to co-ordinate support and advice for every child who needed it; more help for families going through relationship difficulties; and offering parenting programmes to parents of young children with behavioural problems.
Source: National Parenting Strategy: Making a positive difference to children and young people through parenting, Scottish Government
Links: Strategy | Scottish Government press release | Action for Children press release | Children in Scotland press release | Family Fund press release | SCMA press release
Date: 2012-Oct
A think-tank report examined ways to improve patient access to family doctor services in Scotland. It called for catchment areas to be enlarged; steps to make it easier for new family doctor practices to open up; ending the ban on private companies opening up family doctor practices; and the provision of more, and clearer, information to patients about family doctor services. It also said that there should be a separate general medical services contract for Scotland.
Source: Ben Thomson, Geoff Mawdsley, and Alison Payne, Patients First: Improving access to GP practices, Reform Scotland
Links: Report | Reform Scotland press release | BMA press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Sep
A report by a committee of MSPs said that the Scottish Government should do more to address the huge difference in heart disease rates between rich and poor areas. It said that their 'most disturbing' finding was that people in the poorest areas adopted a fatalistic attitude to health problems such as heart disease.
Source: Cardiology Services, 3rd Report 2012, SP Paper 183, Scottish Parliament Public Audit Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Sep
An article said that the report of an official review of social work in Scotland (published in 2006) had failed to offer any significantly new principles or policies. Instead it had shifted the focus away from a long-standing Scottish concern to promote social welfare on a community basis towards an individualized conception of well-being.
Source: Chris Clark and Mark Smith, 'Changing Lives: what is really changing for Scottish social work?', European Journal of Social Work, Volume 15 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
The Scottish Government published a new strategy designed to improve the mental health and well-being of all people in Scotland. It set out 36 key commitments to be delivered by 2015, including: faster access to mental health services for younger people; faster access to psychological therapies; work to reduce and prevent suicide; and addressing stigma and discrimination.
Source: Mental Health Strategy for Scotland: 2012–2015, Scottish Government
Links: Strategy | Scottish Government press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Aug
The Scottish Government began consultation on proposals for improving children's rights and services. Measures in the Bill included: embedding the rights of children and young people across the public sector in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; improving the availability of high-quality, flexible, integrated early learning and childcare; and improving the rights of young people leaving care.
Source: A Scotland for Children: A consultation on the Children and Young People Bill, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document | Scottish Government press release | Letter | COSLA press release | SNP press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jul
An article provided a historical overview of licensing law in Scotland.
Source: James Nicholls, 'Alcohol licensing in Scotland: a historical overview', Addiction, Volume 107 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
A report by a committee of MSPs said that people should be given control over their own care budget, including being offered a direct payment to fund alternatives to council-run care. But local authority estimates of the associated costs were double the amount claimed by the Scottish Government.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Bill, 10th Report 2012, SP Paper 178, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | Cosla press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Jul
A paper examined the role of 'resource allocation systems' in the development of self-directed support. Too many of these systems were bureaucratic, obscure, and without empirical foundation. There was also a grave danger that they were being used to make illegal and unjustified cuts to social care. A much simpler approach was necessary – together with a period of time to test and compare different models. Scotland, which was at the beginning of developing systems of self-directed support, should try not to repeat the mistakes made in England.
Source: Simon Duffy and Keith Etherington, A Fair Budget, Centre for Welfare Reform
Links: Paper | Community Care report
Date: 2012-Jul
A study examined unpaid carers' experiences of short breaks from caring in Scotland. Short breaks were considered fundamental to alleviating the physical and emotional demands of caring and to sustain the caring relationship, preventing admission to residential care.
Source: Rest Assured? A study of unpaid carers experiences of short breaks, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services
Date: 2012-Jul
An audit report said that there were 'considerable variations' in the delivery of healthcare across the four nations of the United Kingdom, in areas such as health outcomes, spending, staffing, and quality.
Source: Healthcare Across the UK: A comparison of the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, HC 192 (Session 2012-13), National Audit Office, TSO
Links: Report | NAO press release | Public Finance report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Jun
A report by a committee of MSPs said that there was a 'lack of clarity' as to how Scotland's £11 billion annual health budget was being spent by National Health Service boards.
Source: NHS Boards Budget Scrutiny, 9th Report 2012, SP Paper 171, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2012-Jun
An article sought to identify explanations for the higher mortality in Scotland relative to other European countries, and to synthesize those best supported by evidence into an overall explanatory framework. The reasons for the high Scottish mortality between 1950 and 1980 were unclear, but might be linked to particular industrial, employment, housing, and cultural patterns. From 1980 onwards, the higher mortality was most likely to be accounted for by a synthesis that began from the changed political context of the 1980s, and the consequent hopelessness and community disruption experienced. This might have relevance to faltering health improvement in other countries.
Source: Gerry McCartney, Chik Collins, David Walsh, and David Batty, 'Why the Scots die younger: synthesizing the evidence', Public Health, Volume 126 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jun
The Scottish Government began consultation on its proposals to integrate adult health and social care services.
Source: Integration of Adult Health and Social Care in Scotland: Consultation on Proposals, Scottish Government
Links: Consultation document
Date: 2012-May
An article examined the health outcomes and behaviours of the employed, unemployed, and economically inactive populations in Scotland. Although ongoing health promotion and vocational rehabilitation efforts needed to be directed towards all groups, the results suggested that the economically inactive group was at higher risk, and that policies and strategies directed at this group might need particular attention.
Source: Judith Brown, Evangelia Demou, Madeleine Tristram, Harper Gilmour, Kaveh Sanati, and Ewan Macdonald, 'Employment status and health: understanding the health of the economically inactive population in Scotland', BMC Public Health, Volume 12
Date: 2012-May
An article examined the distribution of multimorbidity, and of comorbidity of physical and mental health disorders, in relation to age and socio-economic deprivation in Scotland. Onset of multimorbidity occurred 10-15 years earlier in people living in the most deprived areas compared with the most affluent, with socio-economic deprivation particularly associated with multimorbidity that included mental health disorders. These findings challenged the single-disease framework by which most healthcare, medical research, and medical education was configured. A complementary strategy was needed, supporting generalist clinicians to provide personalized, comprehensive continuity of care, especially in socio-economically deprived areas.
Source: Karen Barnett, Stewart Mercer, Michael Norbury, Graham Watt, Sally Wyke, and Bruce Guthrie, 'Epidemiology of multimorbidity and implications for health care, research, and medical education: a cross-sectional study', The Lancet 10 May 2012
Links: Abstract | Dundee University press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
A report by a committee of MSPs said that children in care were lagging behind their classmates to an 'unacceptable' degree.
Source: The Educational Attainment of Looked After Children, 6th Report 2012, SP Paper 140, Scottish Parliament Education and Culture Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-May
An article compared the deprivation and mortality profiles of Glasgow (Scotland) and Belfast (Northern Ireland). All-cause mortality in Glasgow was 27 per cent higher for deaths under 65 years of age, and 18 per cent higher for deaths at all ages. But total levels of deprivation were only slightly higher in Glasgow than in Belfast.
Source: P Graham, David Walsh, and Gerry McCartney, 'Shipyards and sectarianism: how do mortality and deprivation compare in Glasgow and Belfast?', Public Health, Volume 126 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
A report by a committee of MSPs said that the voluntary sector and independent providers of care should have a greater role in delivering integrated health and social care.
Source: Inquiry Into Integration of Health and Social Care, 5th Report 2012, SP Paper 121, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release
Date: 2012-May
An article said that the concept of 'hard to reach' was ill-defined and contested. Drawing on a case-study of a Scottish health improvement programme that explicitly aimed to reach and engage 'the hard to reach , it found that a lack of conceptual clarity led to ambiguous policy and practice.
Source: Mhairi Mackenzie , Maggie Reid, Fiona Turner, Yingying Wang, Julia Clarke, Sanjeev Sridharan, Stephen Platt, and Catherine O'Donnell, 'Reaching the hard-to-reach: conceptual puzzles and challenges for policy and practice', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 41 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
The Scottish Government announced that the preferred minimum price for alcohol would be 50p per unit, once the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill became law.
Source: Press release 14 May 2012, Scottish Government
Links: Scottish Government press release | Briefing | Addaction press release | BMA press release | RCP press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-May
An article drew on a Scottish research study to explore the relationship between (on the one hand) social care professionals' perceptions of specific perpetrators/victims and (on the other) their constructions of 'adult protection' issues in practice. Professionals' perceptions of victim distress did not consistently coincide with the construction of adult protection issues, although the connexion with any assessment of victims' heightened vulnerability in specific cases was not clear. With respect to perpetrators, there were different rules for relatives, staff, and service-user perpetrators, although harms attributed to institutions were de-emphasized.
Source: Fiona Johnson, 'What is an "adult protection" issue? Victims, perpetrators and the professional construction of adult protection issues', Critical Social Policy, Volume 32 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-May
An article applied Scotland's formula for allocating healthcare spending to primary care trusts (PCTs) in England, Health Boards in Wales, and Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, in order to assess relative healthcare expenditure needs. According to the Scottish formula, England's per capita healthcare expenditure need was around 10 per cent lower than Scotland's, Wales's was around 2 per cent lower, and Northern Ireland's was around 7 per cent lower. Scotland's higher expenditure need was largely a function of higher rates of mortality and long-term illness. Scotland's allocation formula also involved a different view from that in England of what constituted an equitable distribution of resources between PCTs.
Source: Rob Ball, David King, and David Eiser, 'Assessing the relative health care spending needs of the UK s devolved territories: a Scottish perspective', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 30 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Apr
A study examined the actual and potential costs, benefits, and impacts of an increase in self-directed support (SDS) in Scotland. Evidence from the study suggested that, if uptake of SDS followed the same pattern as direct payments, the costs of further uptake of SDS would not differ significantly between SDS and more traditional services; nor would it lead to a reduction in service.
Source: Kirstein Rummery, David Bell, Alison Bowes, Alison Dawson, and Elizabeth Roberts, Counting the Cost of Choice and Control: Evidence for the costs of self-directed support in Scotland, Scottish Government
Notes: Self-directed support is designed to enable individuals to direct the care or support they need to live more independently at home: it can be instead of, or in addition to, services that might be arranged by their local authority.
Date: 2012-Apr
An article compared changing patterns of suicide risk in Scotland with those in England and Wales, over the period 1960-2008. Much of the recent divergence in rates was attributable to the rise in suicide among young men and deaths by hanging in Scotland. Introduction of the 'undetermined intent' category in 1968 had had a significant impact on suicide statistics across Great Britain, but especially so in Scotland.
Source: Pearl Mok, Navneet Kapur, Kirsten Windfuhr, Alastair Leyland, Louis Appleby, Stephen Platt, and Roger Webb, 'Trends in national suicide rates for Scotland and for England and Wales, 1960-2008', British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 200 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Apr
A study examined the extent and nature of support provided in Scotland for adult family members affected by a relative's drug problem. A lack of clear identification of adult family members as a distinct group in need of support, and of sub-groups within this broader grouping, had been exacerbated by a lack of data sources in which they were identified.
Source: Alex Copello, Lorna Templeton, Gagandeep Chohan, and Trevor McCarthy, Supporting Adult Family Members of People with Drug Problems in Scotland, UK Drug Policy Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Mar
The Scottish Government published a Bill designed to make 'self-directed support' a mainstream choice for people receiving social care. People would be given the right to have an individual budget and greater control over how it was spent: it could be taken as a cash payment, allocated to a provider chosen by the user, used by the local council to arrange a service, or used to fund a mix of these options.
Source: Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Government, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Policy memorandum | Impact assessment | Scottish Government press release | CCPS press release | Community Care report
Date: 2012-Mar
The mental health watchdog for Scotland said that hundreds of the most vulnerable people in Scotland had been 'left behind' in mental health institutions where they received the poorest care in the country.
Source: Left Behind, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Mar
A report by a committee of MSPs supported plans for the introduction of a minimum price for alcohol, although it acknowledged scepticism on the part of a minority of committee members.
Source: Stage 1 Report on the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, 2nd Report 2012, SP Paper 83, Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee
Links: Report | Scottish Parliament press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Mar
An audit report in Scotland said that local councils and National Health Service boards needed to improve the planning and organization of social care. There needed to be better information on the needs of the population, and on the costs, quality, and impact of services.
Source: Commissioning Social Care, Audit Scotland
Links: Report | Audit Scotland press release | CCPS press release | BBC report | Public Finance report
Date: 2012-Mar
A new book examined theories of citizenship, capacity, and choice when supporting vulnerable adults – using as a model the impact of the early implementation of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.
Source: Ailsa Stewart, Supporting Vulnerable Adults: Citizenship, capacity, choice, Dunedin Academic Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the impact of devolution on the development and implementation of policies related to patient choice in healthcare. 'Distinct rhetorical differences' were identifiable at a national policy level: but these were less visible at the level of service organization and in the way choices were provided to patients.
Source: Stephen Peckham, Nicholas Mays, David Hughes, Marie Sanderson, Pauline Allen, Lindsay Prior, Vikki Entwistle, Andrew Thompson, and Huw Davies, 'Devolution and patient choice: policy rhetoric versus experience in practice', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the association between rurality and health in Scotland. No consistent pattern of better or poorer health in people living in rural areas was found, compared with primary cities. However, individuals living in remote small towns had a lower risk of a hospital admission for coronary heart disease, and those in very remote rural areas had lower mortality, compared with those living in primary cities.
Source: Paulos Teckle, Phil Hannaford, and Matthew Sutton, 'Is the health of people living in rural areas different from those in cities? Evidence from routine data linked with the Scottish Health Survey', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 12
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined post-devolution developments in health policy. Despite some noticeable differences in policy rhetoric, approaches to both healthcare provision and tackling public health problems remained similar in all four countries of the United Kingdom.
Source: Katherine Smith and Mark Hellowell, 'Beyond rhetorical differences: a cohesive account of post-devolution developments in UK health policy', Social Policy and Administration, Volume 46 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
