Community led public services can transform inequalities, says report

Thursday 22 October 2015

UNISON Labour Link Media Release - Launch of Commission on Health Inequalities report will take place at 22 October, 9.00am UNISON Scotland, 14 West Campbell St., Glasgow

The report of the Commission on Health Inequalities for the Scottish Labour Party calls for national leadership and community hubs to tackle health inequalities.

The Commission for Health Inequalities set up by Labour’s then shadow health minister, Neil Findlay MSP, has published its report today (22 October 2015) calling on the Labour Party to adopt radical policies to tackle Scotland’s enduring policy failure of health inequalities. The commission report calls on Labour Party to adopt a transformative agenda if it wants to change political priorities of the Scottish Parliament on this issue.

The report aims to prioritise this agenda across government. It proposes a breadth of policies to tackle health inequalities in Scotland.

Key policy recommendations include building of community hubs, with local multi disciplinary teams that join up services in real localities and which would also serve as community meeting places, where communities are free to set their own agenda. They would include various public services based under the same roof including social work, housing, health and leisure services such as community cafes. With advice shops that offer amongst other things debt, welfare and income maximisation advice. (Para 3.6 of report). These are the type of services envisaged by Christie, who recommended services designed from the bottom up with citizens at their heart, with a high degree of professional autonomy for front line teams.

It recommends the adoption of a progressive universalism approach whereby important basic universal services are targetted and tailored in proportion to community needs.

And it recommends the introduction of health inequality impact assessments for every policy devised by public bodies in Scotland. In other words anything that the Government and every other body do must always take cognisance of its impact on health inequalities. This would ensure that the Scottish Government would take a cross portfolio approach. (para 3.3 in report)

Other policy recommendations include free childcare, an end to the council tax freeze, using the Scottish Parliament new welfare powers and using procurement to end low pay and poor employment practices
Dr David Conway, Chair of the Health Inequalities Commission said, “Health inequalities are the manifestation of inequalities in income, wealth, and power. They result in upto 30 years difference in life expectancy between those born in the richest and poorest neighbourhoods.

There have been many reports on Scottish health inequalities over the years. This commission report is different because it is firmly focussed on what we can and must do in Scotland to tackle this enduring problem. It is a national shame that we have some of the worst health inequalities in the developed world.  We need to debunk the myth that there are no devolved powers available to take on this huge challenge and get on and do something about it. The commission recommendations come from a wide consultation with experts working in communities, the health service, local government, and trade unions; as well as from community engagement events.

The testimonies we heard from people working heroically in their communities painted a graphic picture of the miserable reality of poverty and inequality and the inadequate policy and resources we put into tackling health inequalities in Scotland.

If we are ever going to solve this issue we are going to have to fundamentally change our political priorities and choices taken in the Scottish Parliament”

A full list of the policy recommendations are in the report, some are repeated in the notes below.

ENDS


Notes 
Commission on Health Inequalities Report  for the Labour Party in Scotland was commissioned by Neil Findlay MSP when he was shadow minister for health. It is supported by Socialist Health Association.
The document also calls for a range of policies to tackle low pay and poor working conditions including:

• Agency workers given parity with full-time employees.
• To use procurement to ensure better pay and conditions protection for workers including paying the workforce at least the living wage,  to incorporate the value of lost tax credits in peoples low pay, and to end zero hours contracts and blacklisting trade unionists.
•  Ensure the ‘Scottish Real Living Wage’ is paid in the Social Care sector.
•  Encourage collective bargaining processes.
• Ensure all Fair Work Convention recommendations are implemented.
• Establish a Scottish Health & Safety Executive.
• Raise the levels of Social Security payments to a level conducive to the minimum income for healthy living.
• Abolish the cruel sanctions regime.
• Review all employment and welfare policies devolved in the Scotland Bill and ensure that they are used to maximum potential to reduce health inequalities.

It also calls for Scottish Parliament to:

• Lift the council tax freeze. Reform the regressive Council Tax and consider options for fairer local taxation.
• Build a minimum of 10,000 new social houses each year. Transform the quality and quantity of social housing across Scotland.
• Introduce better regulation of private rented sector including effective rent controls and consider extending the Housing Quality Standards to the Private Sector.
• Provide free childcare at the point of use and extend breakfast clubs and free healthy meals to nursery schools.
• Ensure schools strive to develop social, emotional, health and wellbeing agendas as a foundation for learning.
• Reverse Cuts and boost spending at Further Education colleges.
• Tackle the Mental Health Crisis in Scotland - We strongly recommend that mental health services are prioritised and invested in as a matter of urgency
• Create national targets for reducing health inequalities.
• Create a Cross-portfolio Cabinet Secretary for Health Equity.

Give our members confidence that they can make a difference

#uNDC15 As conference condemned the growing inequality in this country and backed a national and international political campaign to rebalance the economy to deliver a fair distribution of wealth, Aberdeenshire’s Kate Ramsden issued a challenge to all delegates, calling on them to get the message out to our members that austerity is not just bad for our members and the services we provide, but is also bad for the economy.

Kate said: “People – including many of our members - don’t believe that this Tory government has presided over the biggest mass transfer of wealth from the rest of us to the super rich, but it’s true.

Health inequalities report marks NHS 66th birthday

Tomorrow is the 66th anniversary of the NHS in Scotland. Yes, even before devolution, the NHS in Scotland had a separate statutory basis.
    As our contribution to the commemorations, UNISON Scotland has produced its latest paper on health inequalities in Scotland. Not just another analysis of the problem, but some practical measures as well.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/20140630HealthInequalitiesinScotland.pdf

Implement post referendum industrial plans now!

#STUC14 The STUC has backed a range of measures to promote sustainable economic growth in Scotland and will urge the Scottish Government to implement their plans for industrial strategy, fairer employment and greater equality, now instead of waiting till after the referendum.
    Backing the General Council, GMB and Community motion, UNISON's Brenda Aitchison quoted actor Ricky Tomlinson's speech to UNISON Conference last year: "People talk about booms and busts but it only ever booms among the money men... the working classes never experience boom and bust. they have bust, bust and more bust."

The NHS alone can't solve health inequality

UNISON Scotland Convenor, Lilian Macer, reminds us that the NHS alone cannot solve health inequality. 

In an article in the Morning Star she outlines the challenge saying, “The good news is that Scots are living longer. What has not changed is that Scots from better-off areas are living much longer while those from poorer areas are only living a little longer, and not always in good health. The gap between rich and poor in life expectancy is getting wider. The same trend is apparent in other areas of health.”

Then the solution, “A progressive tax system, increases in wages for the majority of workers, access to decent affordable housing and leisure, a system of universal benefits and services are all needed.

Only then will the multi-agency approach, beloved by governments, of bringing together policy, planning, practitioners and integrated finances, focusing on health outcome measures, be able to make inroads on health performance statistics.”

The full article can be read here.

Queen's speech - UNISON reaction

Wed 8 May 2013

QUEEN’S SPEECH – UNISON REACTION

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“There is little comfort in this programme for the young, the unemployed, the working poor, the sick, the vulnerable or the millions who have seen their living standards fall drastically since this coalition government came to power.

“It’s a typical Tory tactic to distract attention from the real problems we face by fostering a ‘blame immigrants’ culture, instead of tackling the huge divide between the rich and the poor.

“This government should face facts and accept that its policies are not working for the majority of people. What we need is a programme that will boost growth and create jobs not one that boosts insecurity and fear and creates division.”



More UNISON UK news here:
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/



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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – TIME TO TURN THE TIDE FOR UK WOMEN

8 March 2013

The government should use International Women’s Day as an opportunity to start undoing the damage its austerity measures have had on women in the UK, UNISON said today.

The social and economic position of women in the UK has been dramatically eroded since the coalition came into power, and UNISON said it was time for the tide to turn.

Through its own education services, UNISON has been working hard to help people develop the skills to make them stand out in the workforce, and this has had a significant impact on a number of its women members.

The free Return to Learn scheme is designed to help workers develop their skills and boost confidence in key areas including writing; investigating and research; analysing and problem solving; and working with numbers. This, and the union’s unique Women’s Lives course are changing the lives of workers – male and female – in their thousands.

Nearly 15,000 UNISON members have benefited from its learning programmes since April 2012, including nearly 5,000 learners at further education level, and nearly 1,400 CPD learners. Return to Learn and Women’s Lives have been helping people enhance their skills and learning for 25 years.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“This International Women’s Day the government should be turning its attention to undoing the enormous damage they’ve done to women’s lives since they came into power.

“Women have borne the brunt of the government’s austerity measures: they’ve been hit hardest by recession, by government benefit cuts and, thanks to this government’s ideology-driven attacks to our public services, have seen record unemployment.

“It’s time for the tide to turn; let’s celebrate the enormous achievements made by women every day, but let’s do so knowing that there is so much more than can be done in the UK to improve the lives of women. This starts with the government, and it must act now.”


Dawn Wilson, a retired Homecare Assistant, took both the Return to Learn and Women’s Lives courses in her early 50’s, and said they gave her to confidence to get back into learning. She is currently undertaking both a creative writing, and a digital photo-editing course through the University of the Third Age. She said:
“My main motivation for getting back into education was to be able to write my life story for my grandchildren. So much has changed in my lifetime; they can’t grasp that when I was young we didn’t have a phone, let alone a mobile! But there is so much more to it; the UNISON courses gave me the confidence to keep learning and prevented me from being isolated. I’m still making new friends, which is important after the loss of my husband.

“Teaching was so much more formal when I was at school; you were basically frightened of your teachers, and you felt like you were in education, but not being taught. When I heard about the Return to Learn and Women’s Lives courses, I thought ‘go for it’. The tutors were brilliant and, unlike when I was at school, were really supportive, and patient, and understanding of any difficulties you might have. So were the other women on my course; four of us still meet once a month for a coffee, or to go to the theatre. They’ve been supportive personally, as well as in education.

“After the UNISON courses I went on to do an NVQ; using what I learned to help organise my coursework, and the best way carry out case studies.

“UNISON’s courses helped in my work, too. The biggest thing is confidence. When you have meetings with work, you feel like you can speak up, and that what you’re going to say is appropriate. The courses helped me to think out of the box, and to be confident enough to give a different view if everyone around the table is fixed on something that seems wrong to you.

“The women I met at UNISON were a lifesaver for me. They were not pushy – the courses are not recruiting shop stewards, they’re about improving your life, and building your confidence. I would definitely recommend them.”

See this press release on the UNISON UK website
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Audit Scotland report ‘Health Inequalities in Scotland’ - UNISON comment

Thu 13 Dec 2012

Public services union UNISON today (Thursday 13 Dec) welcomed Audit Scotland’s focus on health inequalities and the need for more preventative services but warned that action must include addressing wider issues such as in-work poverty.

Dave Watson, Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, said: “We are pleased that Audit Scotland has identified the importance of more preventative services and healthcare focused in areas of high deprivation.

“But, of course, rising living costs and falling incomes are having a huge impact on families just now, with large numbers of people in work struggling financially. They need a living wage. Poverty is a major factor in the deep-seated health inequalities in Scotland.

“However much we want Community Planning Partnerships to ensure health boards, councils and others work together on this, that can only go so far in making a difference if we don’t also address some of the root causes by building a more equal society. At present, the policies of ‘austerity’ are doing the opposite.”


ENDS


Notes for editors
1.    UNISON was responding to the publication of the Audit Scotland report “Health Inequalities in Scotland.” www.audit-scotland.gov.uk

2.    UNISON’s “A Fairer Scotland” report lists addressing health inequalities as a key priority, but says all the evidence shows these are linked to other inequalities. “Creating a healthier Scotland is not simply a matter of a strong NHS, vital though that is.” The report is online at
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/scotlandsfuture/FairerScotlandNov2012.pdf

3.    These issues are also addressed in more detail in our 2008 briefing on the 60th anniversary of the NHS. www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/PI184NHS60th.pdf


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