More people in Scotland are now living with one or more complex health conditions. They require more health and social care and that requirement will increase as they age. Fewer people are able to work and remain in work as a result of health problems.
Our focus on improving our population health has a direct link to preventing two of our biggest health challenges, cancer and diabetes.
Our ultimate aim is to improve the health of the population and to reduce the unacceptable variation in life expectancy that exists across Scotland.
Actions
What we are doing about the following illnesses and long-term conditions:
- cancer
- chronic pain
- diabetes
- endometriosis
- heart disease
- infected blood
- long term effects of COVID-19
- neurological conditions
- palliative and end of life care
- rare diseases
- rehabilitation
- sexual health and blood-borne viruses
- stroke
- longer term effects of COVID-19 infection
We have also:
- provided information about our work in relation to blood donation
- published our VTEC/E.coli action plan 2013-2017
- published our Tuberculosis (TB) action plan in 2011 which led to the publication of the TB Framework for Scotland (May 2018)
- published our national dementia strategy 2017-2020
- introduced an annual flu vaccination programme
- increased awareness of the symptoms of sepsis by contributing to a national awareness campaign
- published our consultation on our draft action plan for respiratory care
Find out more about our work on health improvement.
Find out how we are working to improve social care support.
Background
We published our public health priorities in June 2018 and this included initiatives to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for long-term health conditions as well as addressing inequities in access to treatment across the country.
We published our national action plan for long-term conditions in 2009 in which the prevalence and impact of such conditions is linked to deprivation.
General information on long-term conditions is available on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website.
You can find information about identifying, treating and managing different types of illnesses, infections, injuries and disorders on the NHS inform website.
Contact
Email: ceu@gov.scot