Voluntary Health Scotland

Day

Wednesday 15 June

Time slot

11:00-12:00

This event took place over 1 year ago

Room

Boisdale 1
Wheelchair accessible

Contact

Lauren Blair
07842 445 272

Topics

Health & social care Policy & influencing Families and communities

Who was the event aimed at?

Managers

Who spoke at this event?

Hilda Campbell, CEO, COPE Scotland
Bushra Riaz, Policy Officer, Kidney Research UK
Alastair Hudson, CEO, HIV Scotland
John Watson, Associate Director Scotland, Stroke Association
Chaired by Claire Stevens, CEO, Voluntary Health Scotland

Event summary

What was covered in your sessions?

Our session opened by explaining health inequalities were the unjust and avoidable differences in people’s health across the population and between different groups. The discussion focused on health inequalities, the right to health and the need for more inclusive healthcare. The panel drew on their experience on a diverse mix of conditions but many of the challenges raised were felt across the board. Read the full key messages from the event here: https://vhscotland.org.uk/key-messages-building-a-healthy-and-health-creating-scotland/

Was there any useful feedback or reflection from the participants?

The event underlined the need for collaboration to tackle health inequalities within the limited resources we have. The role of poverty in driving health inequalities cannot be overstated and we need to see a significant shift towards prevention based approaches. We must work to develop solutions in partnership with communities and ensure that we truly value people’s lived experience. There was a recognition that we “in the room” know what the problem is and now was the time for action.

How people can find out more or get involved in your work?

Voluntary Health Scotland is a membership organisation and we would encourage joining us and looking at our membership benefits. Also contact us about our work as Secretariat of the Cross Part Group on Health Inequalities. Our Annual Conference ‘Fair Health- who gets it?’ will take place in Glasgow on the 26th October- book a place and join us. Please visit www.vhscotland.org.uk for more information or email Lauren Blair lauren.blair@vhscotland.org.uk