SUBMISSION FROM: Voluntary Health Scotland 12 th September 2019 Introduction Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) is the national intermediary and network for health charities and other third sector organisations with an active involvement in health. We work with our members and other partners to address health inequalities and to help people and communities live healthier and fairer lives. We are Secretariat to the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities. Our vision for the future of primary care is for an effective, person centred and compassionate system that understands its role in addressing health inequalities, and that is confident and able to work with third sector partners. Our response has been informed by our members’ work, our involvement in the public health reform programme, and by three recent VHS reports: Living in the Gap, our 2015 study into the voluntary health sector’s approach to health inequalities, with case studies that focused in particular on our sector’s role in mitigating health inequalities. Gold Start Exemplars 1 , our 2017 study commissioned by the Scottish Government to map the wide range of third sector initiatives across Scotland that deploy community link working approaches. Community link workers aim to tackle health inequalities and improve health and well-being, as well as reducing pressure on general practice, particularly in areas of deprivation. The Zubairi Report 2 , our 2018 study into the lived experience of loneliness and social isolation. This was primary research that involved speaking to 57 individuals through 5 focus groups and 6 in-depth interviews. One of the major themes to emerge was the need for compassionate health and care services and the role of primary care in addressing loneliness and social isolation at a community level. VHS is playing an active role in the public health reform programme, our role being to ensure the effective engagement of the third sector: for example, through the development and implementation of the six national public health priorities. By influencing the wider social and economic determinants of health, public health can play a role in supporting primary care to be as effective as possible. Question 1: Considering the Health and Sport Committee’s report on Public Panels, what changes are needed to ensure that primary care is delivered in a way that focusses on the health and public health priorities of local communities? Operationalising Realistic Medicine The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Catherine Calderwood, introduced the concept of Realistic Medicine 3 in her 2016 Annual Report. The aim of realistic medicine is to put the 1 Gold Star Exemplars: Third Sector Approaches to Community Link Working Across Scotland 2 The Zubairi Report: the lived experience of loneliness and social isolation in Scotland 3 Realising Realistic Medicine: Chief Medical Officer for Scotland annual report 2015-2016 HEALTH AND SPORT COMMITTEE WHAT SHOULD PRIMARY CARE LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION? REF NO. HS/S5/19/PC/76
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SUBMISSION FROM: Voluntary Health Scotland
12th September 2019
Introduction
Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) is the national intermediary and network for health
charities and other third sector organisations with an active involvement in health. We work
with our members and other partners to address health inequalities and to help people and
communities live healthier and fairer lives. We are Secretariat to the Cross Party Group on
Health Inequalities. Our vision for the future of primary care is for an effective, person
centred and compassionate system that understands its role in addressing health
inequalities, and that is confident and able to work with third sector partners.
Our response has been informed by our members’ work, our involvement in the public
health reform programme, and by three recent VHS reports:
Living in the Gap, our 2015 study into the voluntary health sector’s approach to
health inequalities, with case studies that focused in particular on our sector’s role in
mitigating health inequalities.
Gold Start Exemplars1, our 2017 study commissioned by the Scottish Government to
map the wide range of third sector initiatives across Scotland that deploy community
link working approaches. Community link workers aim to tackle health
inequalities and improve health and well-being, as well as reducing pressure
on general practice, particularly in areas of deprivation.
The Zubairi Report2, our 2018 study into the lived experience of loneliness and social
isolation. This was primary research that involved speaking to 57 individuals through
5 focus groups and 6 in-depth interviews. One of the major themes to emerge was
the need for compassionate health and care services and the role of primary care in
addressing loneliness and social isolation at a community level.
VHS is playing an active role in the public health reform programme, our role being to ensure
the effective engagement of the third sector: for example, through the development and
implementation of the six national public health priorities. By influencing the wider social and
economic determinants of health, public health can play a role in supporting primary care to
be as effective as possible.
Question 1: Considering the Health and Sport Committee’s report on Public Panels,
what changes are needed to ensure that primary care is delivered in a way that
focusses on the health and public health priorities of local communities?
Operationalising Realistic Medicine
The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Catherine Calderwood, introduced the concept of
Realistic Medicine3 in her 2016 Annual Report. The aim of realistic medicine is to put the
1 Gold Star Exemplars: Third Sector Approaches to Community Link Working Across Scotland 2 The Zubairi Report: the lived experience of loneliness and social isolation in Scotland 3 Realising Realistic Medicine: Chief Medical Officer for Scotland annual report 2015-2016
HEALTH AND SPORT COMMITTEE
WHAT SHOULD PRIMARY CARE LOOK LIKE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?