Health organisations across Scotland are calling for a ‘system-wide response’ to reverse the country’s declining health, as they gathered at a major public health conference in Glasgow earlier this week.

A group of public health practitioners, academics and third sector leaders used the ‘Inspiring Change’ conference to forge new connections and avenues for change, amidst stalling life expectancy and widening health inequalities.

The conference presented an “opportunity to galvanise the public health community”, according to the chief executive of Public Health Scotland (PHS), Paul Johnston who said:

“It shone a light on what needs to be achieved and how – through embedding a culture of prevention throughout our healthcare system and within wider society.”

The new conference centred on the leadership role for public health in inspiring change and tackling the big issues creating problems for Scotland’s health, including poverty, obesity, drug-related deaths, and tobacco. 

It comes after leading third sector organisation, Voluntary Health Scotland marked two decades of work and celebrated the efforts of voluntary organisations in the fight against health inequalities.

This March saw PHS share that action to transform and better regulate Scotland’s food environments marked a turning point for obesity.

Now, PHS says this conference heard clearly that to improve health, determined action is needed to support the building blocks of health: tackling poverty, supporting children and young people, providing good quality housing, and good jobs.

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health last month warned that children and young people face ‘significant’ challenges, calling for ‘bold action’ to improve children’s health and wellbeing.

This conference marked a collaboration between Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Directors of Public Health Group, to bring sector together leaders across these different sectors.

Attendees also heard of the vital importance of mitigating the impacts of climate change and dismantling colonialism to support good health for people across Scotland and tackle inequalities.

Mikeala Loach, author and climate activist who studied both medicine and global health policy at the University of Edinburgh, said that climate justice and dismantling colonialism will help narrow the health gap.

The President of the Faculty of Public Health said effective investment and policy spanning across portfolios are key to delivering change. Professor Kevin Fenton CBE said:

“Prioritising good public health, with proper investment and effective system-wide policy will enable us to reverse the declining health and wellbeing we are seeing in Scotland and build a solid foundation for sustainable productivity.

“We know that investing in prevention is one of the most cost-effective interventions that the NHS and wider system can make in improving population health and reducing inequalities, with an estimated £14 returned for every £1 invested in prevention measures including vaccination programmes, reducing smoking, and encouraging healthy diet.”

MSPs recently backed a rise in the minimum unit pricing for alcohol and efforts to improve the food environment are ongoing with the launch of the Good Food Nation plan.

Discussing Scotland’s leadership in system-level interventions like these, Professor Fenton added:

“Scotland is so often a leader in delivering innovative, effective public health interventions, and we call for a commitment from governments in Scotland and across the UK to prioritise public health as we move towards UK general elections.”

The conference heard that that with dedicated collaboration, effective resourcing and political will, the health and wellbeing of communities across Scotland can be enhanced for future generations.

PHS’s Paul Johnston said this event came at a “pivotal moment”:

“We are at a pivotal moment in public health where the focus is shifting significantly towards the need to prevent ill-health and promote wellbeing. In essence, prevention is about keeping people healthy and avoiding the risk of poor health, illness, injury, and early death.

“By 2043, the burden of disease in Scotland is forecast to increase by 21%.

“Two thirds of this increase will be due to increases in cancers, cardiovascular disease, and neurological conditions. Much of this increase is preventable, and it’s essential we work together to avoid more serious problems in the future that will impact on the sustainability of our health services.”

Read more: Medics warn pollution is risking children's health; Cancer workforce “not going in right trajectory”; Regulation key to reducing obesity; Analysis: Why people are left behind; Study shows diet can hold diabetes at bay for years; Economic change key to Scotland's health inequalities; A question of action

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