Scotland
Health and public health policy are among the legislative powers that have been devolved to the Assemblies and Parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Through its members and observers in the four nations, the National Heart Forum seeks to learn from and support the development of public health strategies and coronary prevention initiatives across the UK.
Scotland Targets
There are three major targets:
- CHD target: to reduce mortality rates from CHD among people under 75 years by 60% between 1995 and 2010, from the 1995 baseline of 124.6 to 49.8 per 100,000 population
- CHD inequalities target: to reduce the rate of CHD mortality (for people aged under 75) for the most deprived communities, by 27% between 2003 and 2008, from the 2003 baseline of 112.0 to 81.7 per 100,000 population
- Stroke target: to reduce mortality rates from stroke among people under 75 years by 50% between 1995 and 2010, from the 1995 baseline of 37.5 to 18.8 per 100,000 population (standardised to the European Standard Population).
Health Scotland
The main public health organisation north of the border is Health Scotland, which was formed from the merger of Public Health Institute of Scotland (PHIS) and the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS). It provides a national focus and works with the Scottish Executive and other key partners to take action to improve health and reduce inequalities in Scotland.
It plays a key role in improving the understanding of Scotland's health problems, the reasons behind them and the rationale for tackling them. Working with partners throughout the NHS and in other sectors of the Scottish economy, it aims to:
- Collect, analyse and communicate information on health and health improvement
- Develop and use research evidence to inform health improvement policy-making and practice
- Develop health improvement programmes, and create advertising, publications, and training and development opportunities which deliver them
- Review international, national and local developments that lead to more effective approaches to health improvement in Scotland.
Healthy Scotland Convention
The Healthy Scotland Convention was established to reduce health inequalities.
The aims are to:
- Provide an opportunity to celebrate success and identify good practice;
- To stimulate and energise all stakeholders for the next phase of health improvement which builds upon Towards a Healthier Scotland and Improving Health in Scotland: the challenge; and
- To agree action and information on health inequalities for all stakeholders.
The wider framework for improving the health of Scotland is laid out in Improving Health in Scotland - the challenge (2003). It provides a policy framework for action and to improve the health of the most disadvantaged communities at a faster rate.
Seven special programmes are focused on:
- healthy eating
- physical activity
- smoking
- alcohol
- mental health and well-being
- health and homelessness
- sexual health
Scotland
Coronary heart disease a national priority
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