Introduction
Last year, this report discussed the creation of health as well as the burden of disease. This year, I will continue with the same theme. If we are to make a significant impact on the incidence of ill health in Scotland, we need to pay attention to the ways in which we create health.
A number of programmes and policies have been introduced in Scotland in recent years aimed at improving health and wellbeing in Scotland. Some have proved effective. Smoking related illnesses, for example, are declining and the gap in incidence between rich and poor is narrowing. This outcome has been achieved by a combination of legislation and action across communities to highlight the dangers of smoking and to support smokers in their attempts to quit. In other areas, improvements have yet to be realised. Obesity, poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption continue to be a cause of unacceptable levels of ill health which are inequitably distributed across society.
The late Campbell Christie chaired a Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services which reported earlier this year. The Commission discussed the need to do things differently. It talked of the need to involve people more in shaping and running public services in the future. In the 2009 Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, I suggested that it may be time to change the methods we currently use to improve health and to move to more asset based approaches to improve outcomes. I proposed that asset based approaches may provide the necessary step change in health creation which Scotland needs to accelerate gains in healthy life expectancy across the population. The past year has seen further development in thinking and action on an assets approach to health. The coming year will be important in turning theory into more concerted action.
There is willingness in Scotland to embrace new thinking in our efforts to narrow health inequalities, and make Scotland a better place to grow and develop. If we can capitalise on this positive mind set, we can make changes which may result in significant improvements to the health and wellbeing of all Scots.
Sir Harry Burns
The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland