This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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CMO's annual report
22/03/2005
Scotland may be seeing early signs of shedding its Sick Man of Europe tag, Chief Medical Officer Dr Mac Armstrong said today.
Presenting his fifth and final annual report, he said:
"We have lived for too long with this legacy of one of the most appalling health records in Europe. And we are still living with it.
"As my report makes clear, there with many serious and growing problems particularly with alcohol abuse and also health inequalities.
"But I think we are now seeing some early signs of recovery. Lifting the smoking blanket from our pubs, clubs and restaurants is undoubtedly the most significant measure in a generation to improve our nation's health.
"Beyond that, I sense a the start of wider cultural change in our country. More and more Scots are viewing health as something to be enjoyed.
"They are realising that simple measures everyone can take - like going for a walk, having a swim, eating sensibly - all contribute to feeling good, living well and living longer.
"We know this is going to be a long haul and there is no short-term fix. It will take a generation to turn this around and fully address the ills of Scotland's health record.
"To make progress we have to change our attitudes to alcohol. It is great to enjoy a pint of beer or a glass or two of wine but constantly overdoing it brings far more serious consequences than a hangover.
"Health inequalities are widening and we need to tackle this head on. A lot of work is underway by the Executive, the NHS, local councils and community groups. The new Community Health Partnerships will have a key role in leading this work.
"We have to work together to close the health inequality gap where people in more affluent areas enjoy much better health than those in deprived areas.
"That is why the legislation on smoking is so important because of the benefit it will bring to poorer communities where smoking rates are higher.
"The health benefits to all of making public places smoke free are priceless. This in the long-term be a significant step towards banishing Scotland's image as the Sick Man - and Sick Woman - of Europe.
"I am very proud that this legislation has been introduced in my time as Chief Medical Officer.
"I'm delighted that the Executive has had the courage to take this on and that so many politicians from all perspectives have had the guts to back it. There can be no better legacy they can leave for our children."
Tackling health inequalities is a major aim of the Scottish Executive's health improvement policies set out in the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland (1999) and Improving Health In Scotland: The Challenge (2003).
Details of the legislation to introduce smoke-free public places can be found at www.smokefreescotland.com
The Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems (2002) can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/docs/paap-00.asp
The Scottish Executive has allocated funding of £8 million over two years for treatment, support and prevention activities of alcohol abuse.
We aim to reduce health inequalities by increasing the rate of improvement across a range of indicators for the most deprived communities by 15% by 2008.
The indicators are:
- Coronary Heart Disease mortality in people under 75 years old
- Cancer mortality in people under 75 years old
- Adults smoking
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Teenage pregnancy
- Suicides in young people
The Scottish Executive is providing £15 million over two years to three NHS boards with the highest deprivation concentration (Argyll and Clyde, Tayside and Greater Glasgow) to focus on access to and use of primary and secondary healthcare services.
The Scottish Executive is investing £1 million in the Glasgow Centre for Population Health to investigate the "Scottish Effect" and the links between poverty and ill health.
Improving the health of people living in deprived communities is one of the main aims of the Scottish Executive's anti-poverty programme, Closing the Opportunity Gap (CtOG).