Welcome to our October 2021 E-bulletin: sharing news & views from the VHS network & updates from Scottish Government & the NHS affecting the voluntary health sector.
If you would like to join the VHS network  - Get Involved here

VHS News & Events

VHS Annual Conference 2021: Health at the Heart of Communities

Wednesday 6 October 2021  -  Book now!

The focus of this key online event will be themes around Health at the Heart of Communities, and Paul Okroj, Director People Driven Development, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland will chair the event. Our excellent speakers include:

Humza Yousaf MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
Dave Caesar, Interim Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland
Justina Murray, CEO, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
Frances Simpson, Chief Executive, Support in Mind Scotland
​Laura Van Der Hoeven, Head of External Engagement, Families Outside 

View our Annual Conference Poster Finalists and read their Blogs! - This year's poster finalists are: Alzheimer Scotland, Art in Healthcare, Breast Cancer Now, CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland), LINKnet, Pain Association Scotland, Paths for All, Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), The Brain Tumor Charity and The Breastfeeding Network.

A National Care Service for Scotland: Consultation Event
Join VHS and Scottish Government on 13 October, 10.00 -11.00 am to discuss ‘A National Care Service for Scotland Consultation’. The consultation sets out Scottish Government proposals to improve the way social care is delivered in Scotland. Book your place here.

VHS Annual General Meeting 25 November 2021
Save the date and join us for our AGM and lecture: further details to follow.

Charities including VHS call for review of policies on health harming products
In September VHS was one of a group of health charities calling for greater action to prevent non-communicable diseases, arguing that public health interventions could prevent around 7,800 deaths each year.  High levels of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity are in part to blame for Scotland having one of the lowest healthy life expectancies in Western Europe, and the charities published a report that sets out proposals to prioritise before June 2022, including a bill to ban multi-buy offers on junk food and a consultation on regulation for restricting domestic advertising for e-cigarettes. 

Read the Latest blogs on the VHS website:
Grant Wyper, Public Health Intelligence Adviser at Public Health Scotland: Grant’s Blog: Years of healthy life lost in Scotland’s communities 
Bella Kerr,Intergenerational Development Officer at Generations Working Together: Bella’s Blog: Intergenerational approaches make a real difference 

VHS has a New Policy and Engagement Officer
Kimberley Somerside has recently joined the VHS team, taking on the role of Policy and Engagement Officer. She joins us from the political monitoring company Newsdirect, where she led the public health portfolio as a Senior Account Manager. She is looking forward to getting stuck into the VHS policy agenda, having admired the work of her predecessor over the last few years from her monitoring desk! Outwith work she sits on the organising committee for the Scottish branch of the Women in Public Affairs Network and is shortly due to graduate from the Young Women Lead programme, led by YWCA. 

Policy News

A National Care Service for Scotland
This consultation sets out Scottish Government proposals to improve the way social care in Scotland is delivered. Taking forward recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, the priority in considering these proposals must be improving outcomes for the people who access care and support.  A series of online engagement events are being held to enable stakeholders, individuals and communities to share their views on the National Care Service. The consultation will run until 18 October.

COVID-19 Inquiry 
Work is underway to establish the public inquiry to investigate the handling of the pandemic in Scotland.

Scottish Government COVID-19 Recovery Consultation
This consultation focuses on reviewing the legislative powers that have supported the response to COVID-19. It begins with discussion of the ambitions for Covid recovery and ends with an open question, to invite comments on the action that respondents think is required to support a fair, safe and secure recovery. Response closing date is 9 Nov 2021.

Cancer Care strategy for children & young people
The Scottish Government has published a cancer strategy for children and young people 2021–26. It has ten priorities over the next five years, supported by almost £6m. Priorities include; working towards funding genetic testing to provide personally targeted treatment; expanding CAR-T to teenagers; setting up a national molecular radiotherapy service for children; funding a dedicated health workforce to care for young people; raising the profile of supported and holistic care; and developing a centre of excellence to provide radiotherapy treatment. 

Proposal lodged for Right to Food (Scotland) Bill
Rhoda Grant MSP has lodged a proposal for a bill that would see the right to food enshrined in law. The Right to Food (Scotland) Bill would place a duty on the Scottish Government to ensure food is available for all and create an independent statutory body to oversee food policy. A statement of reasons has also been published. 

Proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
Liam McArthur MSP has lodged a proposal, for a Member's Bill to enable competent adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with assistance to end their life. Consultation closing date: The consultation closes: 23.59pm, 22 December 2021

Proposed Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Pam Duncan-Glancy has lodged  this proposal for a Member’s Bill to create a statutory right for every young person with a disability to be supported through their transition from childhood to adulthood.

NHS 24 consulting on views on its service
Work is underway to develop NHS 24’s Strategic Plan from 2022, shaping how they will provide health and care to the people of Scotland for the next three to five years. This survey will help to ensure that all those who benefit from, and work in or alongside NHS 24, have the opportunity to contribute their ideas, experiences and insights.

NHS Recovery Plan
Scottish Government's NHS Recovery Plan sets out ambitions and actions to implement over the next five years to aid in the COVID-19 recovery. With many health and care services impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant backlog for people to receive the care they need. The plan aims to deal with this backlog as well as the ongoing healthcare needs of Scotland.

The Herbert Protocol
Led by Police Scotland, with key stakeholders including Scottish Government, Alzheimer Scotland, and Health and Social Care Scotland, the Herbert Protocol is a form which family members or carers complete for a person living with dementia or at risk of going missing  which enables police officers to quickly obtain vital information about vulnerable people who have been reported missing. In use since 2017 it was rolled out nationwide on 21 September. Find out more here. Working alongside the Hebert Protocol, is Alzheimer Scotland’s Purple Alert app.

Suspected drug deaths in Scotland
The Scottish Government has committed to the publication of suspected drug death Management Information from Police Scotland - in addition to the annual National Statistics report from National Records Scotland - to provide more timely release of data on drug death trends. This will also ensure everyone involved in the national mission is aware of the challenge ahead.

Diet and healthy weight: out of home action plan
Public Health Scotland  and Food Standards Scotland  will develop a new Eating Out, Eating Well Framework, engaging with stakeholders, including industry and local authorities. This voluntary framework for Out of Home  food outlets will help outlets provide healthier foods to support achievement of Scottish Dietary Goals and include, among other things, calorie labelling and a Code of Practice for Children’s Menus.

Adult care homes - strengthening Health and Social Care Standards: consultation
This consultation seeks your views on the Scottish Government’s proposals for strengthening the Health and Social Care Standards to enable people living in adult care homes to maintain family and friendship connections to support their health and wellbeing. These proposals form part of work to take forward Anne’s Law, ensuring that people who live in adult care homes have rights to see and spend time with the people who are important to them. Closes Friday 15 October

Anne's Law - supporting people who live in adult care homes to maintain family and friendship connections: consultation
Seeks views on the Scottish Government’s proposals for delivering Anne’s Law in primary legislation, to ensure that people who live in adult care homes have rights to see and spend time with the people who are important to them. Closes on Monday 2 November

Developing a national Bairn's Hoose
In September Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Care Inspectorate published their report The Foundations for Bairns’ Hoose (Scottish Barnahus). The report outlines the developments in national policy, practice and research which form the foundations of the development of a national Bairns’ Hoose model in Scotland. The Scottish Government also published its Bairns' Hoose - Scottish Barnahus: vision, values and approach, setting out their vision of how the Barnahus model should be implemented, the values which should underpin the model and their approach to its practical implementation.

Evaluation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism
Key findings show that the Strategy supported a wide range of activities and developments at a local and national level, designed to bring about improvements in services and support for autistic people and their families/carers. The report also makes recommendations, including: narrowing the focus of future work so there is more likelihood of effective delivery and sustainability and concludes that, while the strategy delivered valuable resources and services, much more work needs to be done to meet its ambition of allowing autistic people to be supported to live productive lives. 

Folic Acid Mandatory Fortification
Maree Todd MSP has informed parliament the Scottish Government will follow a four-nation approach to the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid. The intention is to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in foetuses, with mandatory fortification thought to be an effective way to help younger women in the most socioeconomically deprived areas. The Scottish Government will now work with the other UK administrations and stakeholders on the details, labelling requirements and commencement date. The full results of the four-nation consultation and a joint policy response will be published as soon as possible.

Pharmacist Independent Prescribers Consultation
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) are seeking views on key changes to the requirements for training as a pharmacist independent prescriber, which will help to enable more pharmacists to begin their training. The consultation is open until 23 Nov 2021.

Health Policy Officers Network
The HPON is a peer group of health policy officers jointly administered by VHS and RNIB Scotland. The network is for small to medium sized third sector organisations and Members come together to discuss health related policy issues and consultations, to share intelligence, and build their policy skills and confidence. To join the HPON or find out about future meetings email.

VHS Members News

QNIS Catalysts for Change funding opportunity
The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, has opened applications for the latest Catalysts for Change programme.  Grants are available of up to £5,000 to help community nurses and midwives in Scotland explore short-term initiatives that prevent, reduce, or overcome health inequalities. QNIS provides support with the application process - email to discuss your project idea. Guidance for applicants, and the application form, are available to download here. Closing date is Thursday 28 October.

GCVS Wellbeing Service
GCVS have launced a free Wellbeing Service open to staff and volunteers of third sector organisations delivering services in and around Glasgow. It gives free access to physical and mental health support including yoga sessions, peer support initiatives and a range of wellbeing workshops.

Cycling Scotland Conference 2021
The Annual Conference brings together best practice and learning within Scotland and beyond, to support and increase cycling. This year’s online conference on Thursday 4 November will explore the theme of: “Working together to overcome inequalities, make our roads safer and help us face the climate emergency”. 

Volunteering With You! Network with fellow Diabetes UK Volunteers
Join Diabetes UK's first online National Volunteer Conference on Saturday 9 October. You will have the chance to meet other volunteers from across the UK. Hear how your volunteering and support helps to reach more people touched by diabetes and create a world where diabetes can do no harm.

Ten Scottish Men’s Sheds receive life-saving kit through charity partnership
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has partnered up with Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity and leading first aid training provider, St Andrew’s First Aid, to provide free Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds. The ten recipients will use the equipment to not only protect their members but – with the addition of an outdoor cabinet purchased by the Shed – will also make them accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Relational Care Seminar
Faith in Older People are hosting this seminar on 27 October, led by Jenny Kartupelis MBE. Relational Care is a concept that has evolved in response to observed good practice and benefits in the care of older people. It recognises the importance of creating environments of supportive relationships that are mutual and long-term in their nature; that enable purpose and meaning in life; and that empower and respect older people.

What makes engagement meaningful?
Scottish Recovery Network (SRN) want Scotland to be a place where people with lived experience are meaningfully involved in the design and delivery of mental health support and strategies. Join them on the 28 Oct or the 5 Nov for an online discussion event to explore what makes engagement with people with lived experience meaningful.

Parkinson's Active Online Event
This online Event on Wednesday 27 October, is aimed at Health & Social Care Professionals and Exercise Instructors and Providers. This event will discuss the current evidence on exercise prescription for people with Parkinson’s and share how Parkinson’s UK and the Parkinson’s Active project are supporting collaboration between the NHS and the leisure sector to provide exercise opportunities for people with Parkinson’s.

​Unintentional Harm and Injury in Homes across Scotland
The Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) have published this briefing note to highlight Home Safety as an increasingly important area of policy development and to encourage a preventive approach across Community Safety Partnerships.  The Building Safer Communities (BSC) partners, through the BSC Executive group of which VHS is a member, predict that incidences of unintentional harm and injury in homes are likely to rise as we move into a post lockdown environment and begin to return to life as we knew it.   There is evidence to support this assumption and we are encouraging a preventive approach across Community Safety Partnerships. The SCSN supports the Home Safety Scotland network and new members are always welcome – email scsn.

Supporting Young Carers Health & Wellbeing
ASH Scotland are running free online sessions to support anyone who works with young carers to have non-judgmental conversations about health, wellbeing and smoking. The virtual learning is supported by Carers Trust and the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance.  The course includes an e-learning module followed by a short live session (via zoom). More information / Register  Sessions on 27th Oct, 19th Nov.

Other News

Changing the Channel: Communities Channel Scotland and the Social Impact Pledge 
The Communities Channel Scotland website and the Social Impact Pledge have been relaunched, providing a key online resource for community organisations and up-to-date information including key Scottish Government policies such as the Local Governance Review, Community Wealth-Building, Regeneration and Community Empowerment.

Neurological Alliance of Scotland report on virtual consultations
The NAS report "A Review of Virtual Consultations in Scotland' reveals that only 41% of patients with brain and spine conditions have been able to access face-to-face healthcare since the start of the pandemic. Most people have had to make do with telephone appointments and only 32% were offered a video appointment.

Trans People and Work in Scotland
LGBT Health and Wellbeing has carried out research on the experiences of trans (including non-binary) people at work and when looking for work. The report highlights the challenges and barriers faced and makes recommendations for government, equality bodies and employers.

Age Scotland's Dementia Training Project
Around 93,000 people in Scotland are living with dementia and this number is forecast to increase over the next decade.  Age Scotland’s dementia training team seeks to raise awareness of dementia, the signs and symptoms and how to be inclusive of people living with the condition. If you would like to be added to Age Scotland's dementia training mailing list please sign up here.

Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2021 - #SHECANSHEWILL
The theme of the fifth Women and Girls in Sport Week taking place 25 - 31 October, is the role of sport and physical activity in supporting women’s health and wellbeing. The week provides an opportunity to increase visibility and participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity, and the benefits it can have on physical, mental and social health. For further information and resources:  Actify hub. 

Outside the Box
Outside the Box, who provide development support to those who want to make a difference in their communities, have produced some tips on 'How to have your say on social care: the Scottish Government National Care Service consultation explained'.

Challenge Poverty Week 2021: 4 -10 October 
Challenge Poverty Week is designed to highlight that poverty is a problem we can solve, and showcases solutions we can all get behind and unite with others in calling for a more just and equal Scotland. 

PHINS webinar series - September/October 2021
PHINS (Public Health Information Network for Scotland) online webinars: 
10am Thursday 7th October: the commercial determinants of health
10am Thursday 21st October: approaches to addressing post-COVID societal inequalities: community wealth-building; and addressing climate change.

Journey to the centre of the evidence!
CHEX’s new briefing, 'Evidence journeys: Working towards culture change among planners, commissioners, and funders' puts the onus on statutory organisations and funders to unravel their old ways of working with and thinking about evidence so that they can make better use of evidence from communities and third sector and community organisations.   

New Chair for Public Health Scotland
Angiolina Foster CBE has been appointed Chair of Public Health Scotland. She was previously Chief Executive of NHS 24. 

Alcohol marketing regulations failing to protect young people
A SHAAP report on alcohol advertising during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship, highlights the inadequacy of alcohol marketing regulations, particularly in sport, and their failure to protect children and young people from influence.

Life With Covid Boosting vaccines, injecting resilience and protecting liberty
This Adam Smith Institute research briefing found the rollout of vaccines was a success by protecting vulnerable people and argues the UK should learn to live with the virus while “maintaining liberty”.

Concerns over lower vaccine uptake in deprived areas and among minorities
An Audit Scotland  report on the COVID vaccination programme finds there has been excellent progress on vaccinating the adult population however, it also found uptake was lower among young people, people in deprived areas and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and the programme’s reliance on temporary staff drawn from the NHS cannot be used as a long-term solution.

Scottish Government news

Date set for 2022-23 Scottish Budget
Supporting the ambulance service
Record your organ and tissue donation decision
Five-year cancer care strategy for children and young people
Suspected drug deaths in Scotland
Actions to improve racial equality
Funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Child Disability Payment opens nationally from November
Funding for libraries to re-open
Plan to make eating out healthier
Tackling mental health stigma and discrimination
Next Step Towards Scottish Human Rights Bill
Keeping families together
A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22
Investment to transform Scotland’s NHS
Hospital at Home
Almost 300 extra ambulance staff being recruited
NHS recovery plan

Covid 19 news

Coronavirus in Scotland - Latest advice and guidance 
Test & Protect – Third Sector - Third sector organisations with ten or more employees can sign up for asymptomatic workplace testing - initially in place until the end of Sept 2021
Self Registration Portal
Regular rapid testing for everyone
Supporting Test and Protect
Vaccine certification introduction confirmed
Improving ventilation to tackle COVID-19
Covid-19 booster vaccinations underway
Vaccinations for 12 -15 year olds
Second doses offered to all eligible adults
Vaccine certification plans approved by Scottish Parliament
Coronavirus (COVID-19): mandatory vaccine certification proposals
Covid-19 Vaccination certification
Long COVID Support Fund

Dates for your diary
5 Oct Challenge Poverty Lecture 2021
8 Oct Rights in Recovery: Protecting Rights and Tackling Poverty After Covid 
8 Oct Transport, Poverty & the Environment
9 Oct Volunteering With You! Network with fellow Diabetes UK Volunteers
4-10 Oct Challenge Poverty Week 2021
6 Oct VHS Annual Conference 2021: Health at the Heart of Communities
10 Oct World Mental Health Day
27 Oct Relational Care
27 Oct Parkinson's Active Online Event
28 Oct & 5 Nov What makes engagement meaningful?
4 Nov Cycling Scotland Conference 2021
25 Nov VHS Annual General Meeting

Other opportunities for VHS Members

Newsdirect - Political Intelligence
Looking to promote your issues in the Scottish Parliament? Newsdirect is offering VHS members a discount on subscriptions on their daily parliamentary and political briefing, 'Health Today'.
Contact Newsdirect if you're interested in subscribing.