Health Inequalities in Scotland: The State of the Nation

Event Fully Booked – bookings are now closed

 

Twenty-five years on from devolution, our health and social care system is failing us. People in Scotland now die younger than in any other Western European country and the gap in life expectancy between the poorest and the wealthiest is growing. 

 

Holyrood’s inaugural Health Inequalities in Scotland: The State of the Nation summit will bring together Scotland’s leading public health voices from the public, private and third sectors to share innovation, make connections and explore the practical steps that can be taken to inspire change and turn the tide.   

 

Over the course of the day, sessions will:

 

  • Explore initiatives that have been successful in tackling health inequalities;
  • Discuss solutions to specific challenges such as alcohol and obesity; and
  • Consider the roles that different sectors such as life sciences, can and are playing. 

 

The event concludes with a high profile cross-party political panel.

 

Pfizer Ltd has sponsored this event. Pfizer have had no input into the content beyond their presentation.

This event has been sponsored (part-funded) by MSD. MSD has had no control over the agenda or delivery of the event.

Event Details

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for a third of all cancers in women in Scotland.

There are known inequalities within breast cancer, with a range of sociodemographic factors impacting on patients’ access to diagnosis and treatment, leading to avoidable disparities in survival rates.

This session, led by Pfizer, will explore the potential drivers of inequality, in order to initiate discussion on who, how and where we might reduce them.

(Pfizer Ltd has sponsored this event. Pfizer have had no input into the content beyond their presentation.)

In August 2024, figures published by National Records of Scotland showed that 1,172 people died due to drug misuse in Scotland in 2023 – a 12% increase on the previous 12 months. 

In this session we will reflect on why these figures are so high, looking at the impact of both drug-specific policy and wider government policy. Panellists will discuss what steps need to be taken to ensure significant, consistent progress is made in reducing drug related deaths, particularly in regards to: 

  • Improving access to appropriate, timely treatment and recovery services
  • Challenging the stigma associated with problematic substance use
  • Preventing people from developing problem drug use

Vaccine uptake in Scotland has historically remained high and in recent years we have seen the success of immunisation programmes such as HPV.

However, over the past decade there has been a decline in baby and pre-immunisation rates and further figures suggest that vaccine uptake is lower in areas of high relative deprivation.

This session will consider the barriers and motivators to vaccination, and explore how we can enhance uptake and ensure equitable access to vaccination services.

Poverty is the single biggest driver of poor mental health and in recent years, events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have only worsened the situation before us.

This panel will focus on the action that needs to be taken to improve the mental health and wellbeing of certain groups within society, particularly in regards to prevention, early intervention, and access to care and treatment.

Alcohol-specific deaths have risen since 2012, with 1,276 people losing their lives to conditions caused by alcohol in 2022 – the highest number since 2008. While policies such as Minimum Unit Pricing – which is due to increase from 50p to 65p in September 2024 – have led to a reduction in alcohol related deaths and hospital admissions, it is clear that further action is required.

With this in mind, our panel will focus on how access to support and treatment can be improved and the role of preventative measures, specifically around youth education and pricing and promotion.

More than two-thirds of adults in Scotland are overweight or obese and a third of children are at risk of becoming so. Despite Scottish Government ambitions to halve childhood obesity by 2030, figures suggest we are, in fact, moving in the wrong direction.

So with the links between obesity and serious health conditions - such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease – well known, how can we turn the tide and reduce rates of obesity across all age groups?

This session will look to answer this, with consideration given to how we can support people to develop healthy lifestyles and reduce consumption of food and drink which is high in fat, salt and sugar.

Scotland’s communities and public services face enormous challenges. Our life expectancy is the lowest in Western Europe, and inequalities in health are among the highest.

This presents a significant challenge to the long-term sustainability of not only our health and social care system but also for our wider public services.

Through a sustained focus on preventing ill health, we can make a lasting difference to the lives of people in Scotland.

Developed in partnership with Public Health Scotland, this session will bring together leading experts to explore this important topic.

Bringing delegates back together in the main room, our panel will debate:

  • Whether people need to change their expectations of the health and social care system, if we are to successfully address the challenges we face
  • If we need clearer targets and better mechanisms for accountability
  • How we can move towards longer term planning
  • The importance of leadership and partnership working

 

Ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary election in 2026, our final session will see representatives from the main parties discuss how we can reduce the inequalities we face over the coming years.

Vered Hopkins
Lead Officer Protecting People
Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership
Kirsten Horsburgh
Chief Executive Officer
Scottish Drugs Forum
Jaynaide Powis
Head of Data and Evidence
World Obesity Federation
Fiona White
Development Officer - Health and Wellbeing
Renfrewshire Council
Clair Thomson
Collaboration Transformation Manager
Police Scotland
Dr. Tara Shivaji
Consultant in Public Health Medicine
Public Health Scotland
Dr. Mairi Hope
GP
NHS Grampian
Prof. Alexandra Johnstone
Theme Lead for Nutrition, Obesity and Disease
Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen
Rebecca Goodman
Community Link Worker
Caring in Craigmillar
Rachel Russell
Director Market Access Policy & Methods
Pfizer
Prof. Rak Nandwani
Board Member
Public Health Scotland
Dr. Joy Tomlinson
Director of Public Health
NHS Fife
Dr. Allison Duggal
Director of Public Health and Wellbeing
Coventry City Council
Dr. Stuart Robertson
Devolved Nations Country Lead
MSD
Dr. Josephine Adekola
Senior Lecturer
University of Glasgow
Tajesh Mistry
Chief Executive
Voluntary Health Scotland
Richard Foggo
Co-Director of Population Health
Scottish Government
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet
Head of Vaccination and Immunisation
Public Health Scotland
Jason Wallace
Senior Development Officer
Scottish Drugs Forum
Kenryck Lloyd-Jones
Public Affairs and Policy Manager for Scotland
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Paul Johnston
Chief Executive
Public Health Scotland
Dr Jules Goodlet-Rowley
Head of Tobacco, Gambling, Diet and Healthy Weight Unit
Scottish Government
Carol Mochan MSP
Spokesperson for Public Health and Women's Health
Scottish Labour
Jenni Minto MSP
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
Scottish Government
Katherine Smith
Prof. Katherine Smith
Professor of Public Health Policy
University of Strathclyde
Catriona Matheson Headshot
Prof. Catriona Matheson
Professor in Substance Use
University of Stirling
Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP
Scottish Conservatives
Pennie Taylor
Freelance Journalist
Dr Gillian Purdon
Chief Nutritionist
Food Standards Scotland
Dr Peter Rice Headshot
Dr Peter Rice
Interim Chair | Former Consultant Psychiatrist
Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems | NHS Tayside Alcohol Problems Service
Dr Bhautesh Jani
GP and Clinical Senior Lecturer in General Practice
John Street Surgery and University of Glasgow
Acting Chief Inspector Elaine Tomlinson
Police Scotland
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