23 April 2024
We are pleased to share with you our new strategy for Tackling Health Inequalities in the Scottish Borders (THIS Borders). This document is the first step in a new programme of work we are undertaking to tackle some of the causes of these inequalities in our communities.
Health inequalities are systematic differences in people’s health that are avoidable and unjust. They are rooted in complex social causes and can affect the following:
- Opportunities to lead a healthy and fulfilling life
- Access to appropriate care
- Experiences of care within the health system
- Health status, outcomes and ultimately early death
In the Scottish Borders, we annually lose approximately 8600 years of life across our communities due to premature death and we know that there are significant differences in people’s health as a result of deprivation.
Health inequalities affect everyone, whether that is directly or through the negative consequences of health inequalities on our friends, neighbours, colleagues and family members.
Kirsty Kiln, Public Health Consultant at NHS Borders said: “This strategy is a really important step in understanding the impact of health inequalities and seeking to tackle them in our communities. We look forward to working together with our partners to address the challenges that many Borderers face and which impact our health.”
Dr Sohail Bhatti, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders said: “This strategy leads on from my annual report, Real Action for Prevention: a vision of population health in the Scottish Borders. Tackling health inequalities not only reduces unfair and unjust experiences of health, it makes our communities healthier and happier and enables the health service to be more effective and sustainable.”
You can read THIS Borders, our health inequalities strategy, here.
The Director of Public Health’s annual report Real Action for Prevention: a vision of population health in the Scottish Borders can be accessed here.