Health https://indylibrary.scot/ en Climate change and the link to microorganisms https://indylibrary.scot/climate-change-and-the-link-to-microorganisms <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Climate change and the link to microorganisms</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Lynne Copland</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 26/03/2024 - 19:15</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Bylines Scotland</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2024</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/climate-change" hreflang="en">Climate change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Article</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1386&amp;2=like_content" token="6HWcT5Bb7dFB-ZxOWyGBTTfpEHzOWR6qJnWsCy8wa2Y"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item">The drip of melting Arctic permafrost is now a stream and releasing ancient microorganisms that could make Covid a side-show. Is it too late?</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The biggest risk with any novel viruses and other strains found in permafrost melt, is that they may have the capability to spread rapidly, initiating future pandemics in populations which do not have natural immunity. Modern vaccines could offer some protection against such novel viruses but these need to be studied as and when the virus infects people. This means that scientists have to stay ahead of the curve if suitable vaccines and technologies are to be developed to ensure sufficient vaccine supply.</p> <p>As climate change alters the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0254-2">dynamics in the community structure of microorganisms</a>, there is a need for us to accommodate these changes in our own community structures; hence the urgent requirement to adapt and evolve in response to our own changing circumstances. Climate change policies which consider microorganisms and the role they play in carbon reduction, land use, reducing environmental degradation and lowering our exposure to infectious disease, are key to our survival.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://bylines.scot/environment/climate-change-and-the-link-to-microorganisms/" target="_blank">https://bylines.scot/environment/climate-change-and-the-link-to-microorganisms/</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/341" hreflang="en">Climate change</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1260" hreflang="en">Pandemics</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:15:27 +0000 Stephen Richard 1386 at https://indylibrary.scot Education matters – our kids' mental health https://indylibrary.scot/education-matters-our-kids-mental-health <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Education matters – our kids&#039; mental health</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Charlie McCarthy</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Mon, 18/03/2024 - 20:26</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Bylines Scotland</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2024</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1369&amp;2=like_content" token="kjD_qGBlObOABAT2W67qvPppwzES5vmC9YfdqAzlwuQ"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Absenteeism in school is a consequence of our kid's mental health. In this article, the author explains how this can be overcome.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/children-young-people-statistics">Research indicates</a> that 10% of children (aged 5-16) have a clinically-diagnosable mental health problem. Around three in every class and 20% of adolescents may experience such a problem in any given year. </p> <p>There are signs that children are struggling at school, that their life in their world is not going well. These include a sudden change in behaviour, feeling anxious or overwhelmed, feeling irritable, disturbed sleep, sweating, headaches, loss of appetite, and frequent illness. </p> <p>The relationship between parents, schools as organisations, and the people who deal daily with young people is front and centre to successful outcomes. If there is a lack of understanding, or a conflict between parents and school, this can be very damaging to the pupil. </p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://bylines.scot/education/education-matters/" target="_blank">https://bylines.scot/education/education-matters/</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/515" hreflang="en">Mental health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1248" hreflang="en">Children mental health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1249" hreflang="en">Mental health in Schools</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:26:42 +0000 Stephen Richard 1369 at https://indylibrary.scot Scottish Health Survey, 2022 https://indylibrary.scot/scottish-health-survey-2022 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Scottish Health Survey, 2022</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Scottish Government</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 07/12/2023 - 22:27</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Scottish Government</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2023</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Report</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-length field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)</div> <div class="field__item">3 volumes</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1275&amp;2=like_content" token="Pv7WHpPH87OpkftA34a9eaHw5Kksj9RIL7G4OxHkIBw"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Most public health measures show a decrease in health from 2021, except alcohol and smoking.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-health-survey/#2022" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/collections/scottish-health-survey/#2022</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1204" hreflang="en">public health in Scotland</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Thu, 07 Dec 2023 22:27:05 +0000 Stephen Richard 1275 at https://indylibrary.scot Suicide prevention strategy and action plan: consultation analysis https://indylibrary.scot/suicide-prevention-strategy-and-action-plan-consultation-analysis <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Suicide prevention strategy and action plan: consultation analysis</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Scottish Government</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 28/05/2023 - 09:45</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Scottish Government</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2023</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">consultation response</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1151&amp;2=like_content" token="EljQsfN0Eg1Zyfm8syDHfSX8-S078oViN0U_pFJA3b0"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Scotland's suicide prevention strategy and action plan.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The new strategy and action plan builds on the work already happening across Scotland – nationally and locally – to prevent suicide, whilst being ambitious and going further than before, to ensure fewer lives in Scotland are lost to suicide.</p> <p>The new strategy takes an outcomes focused approach. Outcomes are the results or changes we want to see as a result of the strategy and action plan. These include changes in knowledge, awareness, skills, practice, behaviour, social action, and decision making.</p> <p>The strategy aims to address the inequalities which contribute to suicide. The action plan includes actions that bring about change across the whole of government policy and society. In practice, this means the strategy and action plan sets out how suicide prevention will be embedded within existing and future policies across national and local government, and how that translates into effective action on the ground - across all sectors and communities.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/creating-hope-together-scotlands-suicide-prevention-strategy-action-plan-analysis-public-consultation-responses/pages/1/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/publications/creating-hope-together-scotlands-suicide-prev…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1140" hreflang="en">Suicide</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sun, 28 May 2023 08:45:18 +0000 Stephen Richard 1151 at https://indylibrary.scot How stark are Scotland’s health inequalities? https://indylibrary.scot/how-stark-are-scotlands-health-inequalities <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How stark are Scotland’s health inequalities?</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">The Ferret</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sun, 02/04/2023 - 18:41</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">The Ferret</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2023</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Report</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1103&amp;2=like_content" token="OvwUcw3NepRA9YVDRYFXsbJmtLTb-98QOyERF0l9y1o"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>After consistently increasing over the last four decades <a href="https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/life-expectancy/life-expectancy-in-scotland/2019-2021">overall life expectancy</a> stalled in Scotland in 2013-15</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>"The <a href="https://theferret.scot/tag/scottish-government/">Scottish Government</a> measures the mental wellbeing of Scots on the Warwick-Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale. It uses a survey with multiple choice questions to assess the mental health of the population. <br /> Adults in the <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2021/01/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities-january-2021-report/documents/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities/govscot%3Adocument/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities.pdf">most depri</a><a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2021/01/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities-january-2021-report/documents/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities/govscot%3Adocument/long-term-monitoring-health-inequalities.pdf">ved areas</a> are about <strong>three times</strong> more likely to have below average wellbeing than those in least deprived areas."</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/theferret.scot/how-stark-are-scotlands-health-inequalities/" target="_blank">/theferret.scot/how-stark-are-scotlands-health-inequalities/</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1093" hreflang="en">Health inequality</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1105" hreflang="en">Mortality</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/737" hreflang="en">Life expectancy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1106" hreflang="en">Cancers</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sun, 02 Apr 2023 17:41:28 +0000 Stephen Richard 1103 at https://indylibrary.scot Health Inequalities in Scotland: Trends in the socio-economic determinants of health in Scotland https://indylibrary.scot/health-inequalities-in-scotland-trends-in-the-socio-economic-determinants-of-health-in-scotland <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Health Inequalities in Scotland: Trends in the socio-economic determinants of health in Scotland</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">David Eiser</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 25/02/2023 - 20:14</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Emma Congreve, Ciara Crummey, Allison Catalano</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Fraser of Allander Institute</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2022</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Report</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=1060&amp;2=like_content" token="q3ounMFs7MmFPn2rseXWV6FZO6lrfRLGkCB_h_IzPKk"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Socioeconomic factors play a critical role in influencing health and health inequalities.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>These socioeconomic factors include the pay, security and nature of the jobs that people do. They include households’ financial security, which influences the extent to which people are exposed to stress and anxiety, the time and resources people have to adopt healthy behaviours, and their ability to secure a decent standard of living generally. They also include the physical environment in which people live, both in terms of housing – poor quality or overcrowded housing can affect health in various ways – and neighbourhoods more generally (which influence opportunities for work, play and exercise, and exposure to pollution).</p> <p>The aim of this report is to examine trends in key socioeconomic determinants of health in Scotland since 1999, the year of the establishment of the Scottish parliament. The report is based on six thematic chapters which examine trends in: the labour market; household income and financial security; education and social mobility; housing; public services; and neighbourhoods. A seventh chapter examines trends in socioeconomic determinants of health during the Covid-19 pandemic and the emerging cost-of-living crisis.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://fraserofallander.org/publications/health-inequalities-in-scotland-trends-in-the-socio-economic-determinants-of-health-in-scotland/" target="_blank">https://fraserofallander.org/publications/health-inequalities-in-scotland-trend…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1093" hreflang="en">Health inequality</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sat, 25 Feb 2023 20:14:20 +0000 Stephen Richard 1060 at https://indylibrary.scot Huntington’s disease: northern Scotland has one of world’s highest rates and rising sharply – here’s why https://indylibrary.scot/huntingtons-disease-northern-scotland-has-one-of-worlds-highest-rates-and-rising-sharply-heres-why <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Huntington’s disease: northern Scotland has one of world’s highest rates and rising sharply – here’s why</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Zofia Miedzybrodzka</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 12/10/2021 - 18:52</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">The Conversation</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-08-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">26/08/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Media</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=296&amp;2=like_content" token="Tj8lEGAjEtVrFkAB5oaeD8s3NtCDas3OGOR3qUtvKcQ"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Although Huntington’s disease is particularly common in northern Scotland, our data clearly shows that there is far more Huntington’s diagnosed now than the <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/84/10/1156#ref-4">previous prevalence studies</a> suggest, and more people with the HD gene are testing before the appearance of symptoms to access better care and research trials.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Since the identification of the Huntington’s gene in 1993 made testing for the condition possible, awareness has increased and a diagnosis can now be made in people unaware of their family history of the condition. Along with better care and hope of treatment trials, this has led to more people coming forward for testing.</p> <p>We believe the high rates of HD diagnosis in Grampian and Highland are due to a combination of underlying genetic susceptibility in ancestral populations dating back to the rule of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/articles/kingdom_of_the_picts/">the Picts</a>; increased awareness that diagnosis will lead to better care and support services; and the region having one of the oldest specialist Huntington’s research clinics in the world. Interestingly, there is also a higher incidence of <a href="https://mstrust.org.uk/a-z/prevalence-and-incidence-multiple-sclerosis">of multiple sclerosis</a> (MS) in the north of Scotland, though no equivalent genetic explanation for some of the cases.</p> <p>We did note that the rates of Huntington’s also vary between the different health board regions in the north of Scotland, with more cases in Highland and fewer in Orkney and Shetland compared with Grampian. This local variation in rates could have major drug cost and service delivery implications for the NHS, especially if expensive, complexly administered therapies prove successful.</p> <p>Although the condition is particularly common in northern Scotland, our data clearly shows that there is far more Huntington’s diagnosed now than the <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/84/10/1156#ref-4">previous prevalence studies</a> suggest, and more people with the HD gene are testing before the appearance of symptoms to access better care and research trials.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://theconversation.com/huntingtons-disease-northern-scotland-has-one-of-worlds-highest-rates-and-rising-sharply-heres-why-166861" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/huntingtons-disease-northern-scotland-has-one-of-wo…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/601" hreflang="en">Huntington&#039;s disease</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:52:50 +0000 Stephen Richard 296 at https://indylibrary.scot Scotland’s COVID inquiry must be credible, timely and thorough – here’s what needs to happen https://indylibrary.scot/scotlands-covid-inquiry-must-be-credible-timely-and-thorough-heres-what-needs-to-happen <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Scotland’s COVID inquiry must be credible, timely and thorough – here’s what needs to happen</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Andrew Watterson</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 12/10/2021 - 18:46</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">The Conversation</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-09-01T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">01/09/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Media</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=407&amp;2=like_content" token="gs8mTLrcrfw6R9pNvzdtakJnbPcbfR-kB9CmL3c5VTY"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><h3>Four steps for a successful inquiry</h3> <p>No delays</p> <p>Devolved matters only</p> <p>What has worked and what hasn’t</p> <p>Public respons</p> <p> </p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Scotland will be the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58318778">first UK nation</a> to launch an <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/covid-19-inquiry/">independent COVID inquiry</a> to be chaired by a judge, as announced by the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in late August. It will begin later this year against a backdrop of substantial health, social and economic harms caused by the pandemic, and as recent events have revealed, a <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/08/26/school-year-covid-19-cases-spike-uk-england-scotland-delta-variant/">worrying rise</a> in COVID cases.</p> <p>Interim reports provided at intervals as investigations are completed will be welcome – for example on the NHS or care homes – but only if they are not subject to editing by government law officers beforehand.</p> <p>If the Scottish government takes on board these views and avoids the tarnished legacy of past inquiries, it will escape the public discontent and lack of credibility that has blighted previous investigations. An open, transparent, thorough and timely inquiry that is perceived to be independent will be widely welcomed across Scotland – and lead the way for other UK inquiries in the future.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://theconversation.com/scotlands-covid-inquiry-must-be-credible-timely-and-thorough-heres-what-needs-to-happen-167009" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/scotlands-covid-inquiry-must-be-credible-timely-and…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/156" hreflang="en">Covid19</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 17:46:15 +0000 Stephen Richard 407 at https://indylibrary.scot Scotland won’t prosecute personal possession of class A drugs, but outdated laws prevent deeper reforms https://indylibrary.scot/scotland-wont-prosecute-personal-possession-of-class-a-drugs-but-outdated-laws-prevent-deeper <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Scotland won’t prosecute personal possession of class A drugs, but outdated laws prevent deeper reforms</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Rick Lines</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 12/10/2021 - 17:55</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Niamh Eastwood</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">The Conversation</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-10-06T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">06/10/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Media</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=179&amp;2=like_content" token="RjEXREQVYm9Ow5G5EJhspDNlUq46AmnUFeQX8yx1MYA"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The drug-related death crisis is not only a Scottish problem but one for politicians across all four nations.  If the government wants to save lives, it must reform our harmful laws, beginning with the Misuse of Drugs Act.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The Misuse of Drugs Act has largely been a failure, and the government knows it. Successive official reports have shown criminalisation <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drugs-international-comparators">does not deter use</a>. And, despite spending £1.6 billion a year on drug law enforcement, this approach has <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628100/Drug_Strategy_Evaluation.PDF">“little impact</a> on the availability” of drugs.</p> <p>The negative effects of UK drug laws are well documented, particularly in the way that policing practices, such as “stop and search”, are <a href="https://www.release.org.uk/publications/ColourOfInjustice">racialised</a>. In England and Wales, black people are <a href="https://www.release.org.uk/publications/ColourOfInjustice">nine times more likely</a> to be stopped and searched for drugs than white people, and 12 times more likely to be <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/black-people-cannabis-prosecutions-b1853669.html">prosecuted for</a> cannabis possession, despite being less likely to use drugs. Deprived areas experience <a href="https://www.release.org.uk/publications/ColourOfInjustice">more intensive</a> drugs policing, despite drug use being ubiquitous across the different socioeconomic groups.</p> <p>Despite evidence that criminalisation doesn’t achieve a reduction in drug use and drug markets, the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act continues to stand as the unquestioned basis of UK drug policy for the two main parties in Westminster.</p> <p>This is because the “war on drugs” was never about drugs. It was, and continues to be, about social control, particularly of poor and racialised communities that governments view as “problematic”. As author and law lecturer <a href="https://www.hr-dp.org/contents/1596">Kojo Koram</a> writes, international drug control since the 19th century has been deeply intertwined with the European colonial project and the desire to control indigenous and colonised populations. It should come as no surprise then that domestic drug laws have a similar dynamic.</p> <p>While legislative reform is not within the Scottish government’s gift, it does follow, as much a possible, the evidence of the <a href="https://www.talkingdrugs.org/drug-decriminalisation">30-plus countries</a> around the world that have ended criminal sanctions for possession of drugs. None experienced increased rates in drug use, many experienced better health and social outcomes, including lower rates of drug-related death – not solely because of the legal landscape, but also because they invested in <a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2012/12/10/portuguese-drug-policy-alex-stevens/">evidence-based harm reduction, drug treatment and social welfare services</a>.</p> <p>The drug-related death crisis is not only a Scottish problem but one for politicians across all four nations. True decriminalisation of people who use drugs, the regulation of drug markets in a way that includes communities who rely on the illicit economy to survive, and broader economic and social reforms that address inequality would be elements of a truly new and evidence-based drug strategy. If the government wants to save lives, it must reform our harmful laws, beginning with the Misuse of Drugs Act.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://theconversation.com/scotland-wont-prosecute-personal-possession-of-class-a-drugs-but-outdated-laws-prevent-deeper-reforms-168333" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/scotland-wont-prosecute-personal-possession-of-clas…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/353" hreflang="en">Drugs policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/216" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:55:40 +0000 Stephen Richard 179 at https://indylibrary.scot James McCune Smith: new discovery reveals how first African American doctor fought for women’s rights in Glasgow https://indylibrary.scot/james-mccune-smith-new-discovery-reveals-how-first-african-american-doctor-fought-for-womens-rights <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">James McCune Smith: new discovery reveals how first African American doctor fought for women’s rights in Glasgow</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Matthew Daniel Eddy</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 12/10/2021 - 11:59</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">The Conversation</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-10-08T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">08/10/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/101" hreflang="en">Women</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Media</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=268&amp;2=like_content" token="sPcH8z0gHbv6T7o481_xRBe9-Csfvb9LA27hyFsSQn8"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>McCune Smith’s <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FwvIir4VSX4C&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=stauffer+black+hearts+of+men&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">activism</a> showed aspiring African Americans that becoming a professional black physician could be more than simply treating patients. For him, being an expert in medical science also included using his training to fight injustice and inequality.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>James McCune Smith was the first African American to receive a medical doctorate from a university. Born in 1813 to a poor South Carolina runaway slave who had escaped to New York City, he went on to attend Glasgow University during the 1830s. When he returned to America, he became a leading black physician, a tireless abolitionist, <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=FwvIir4VSX4C&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;dq=black+hearts+of+men&amp;hl=en&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;sa=X&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=black%20hearts%20of%20men&amp;f=false">activist and journalist</a>.</p> <p>McCune Smith led an amazing life. He exposed false medical data in the 1840 American census. He supported women’s suffrage alongside the noted feminist <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony">Susan B. Anthony</a>. And he wrote the introduction to Frederick Douglass’s sensational 1855 autobiographical slave narrative, <a href="https://archive.org/details/mybondagemyfreed00indoug">My Bondage and My Freedom</a>.</p> <p>Now, for the first time, my research has revealed that McCune Smith was also the first African American known to be published in a British medical journal – and that he used this platform to reveal a cover-up by an ambitious medical professor who was experimenting on vulnerable women in Glasgow in the 1830s.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://theconversation.com/james-mccune-smith-new-discovery-reveals-how-first-african-american-doctor-fought-for-womens-rights-in-glasgow-166233" target="_blank">https://theconversation.com/james-mccune-smith-new-discovery-reveals-how-first-…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/433" hreflang="en">James McCune Smith</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/157" hreflang="en">Black History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/437" hreflang="en">Glasgow</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 12 Oct 2021 10:59:15 +0000 Stephen Richard 268 at https://indylibrary.scot NHS Scotland: how much is being spent? https://indylibrary.scot/nhs-scotland-how-much-is-being-spent <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">NHS Scotland: how much is being spent?</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Claire Milne</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 28/09/2021 - 20:41</span> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Full fact</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2018-01-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">26/01/18</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Fact check</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=135&amp;2=like_content" token="hdAFsvikDkmM2HkRRZ9olsb6NNOBrtSwDh8ngyolFjQ"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The planned increase in day-to-day spending on health in Scotland between 2006/07 and 2018/19 has gone up by £4 billion to £13 billion. It doesn’t account for inflation though, once that is added the increase is £2 billion.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Health is a devolved area in Scotland, and the Scottish government <a href="https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/health-spending-across-the-uk-nations-who-decides-how-much#spending-across-the-national-health-services">decides</a> exactly how much money is going to go into the NHS budget each year.</p> <p>The Scottish government’s budget is made up of three <a href="http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00511808.pdf#page=10">components</a>: money it receives through the block grant from the UK government, money raised through taxes in Scotland (and collected by the Scottish government directly), and money raised through borrowing.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://fullfact.org/health/nhs-scotland-spending/" target="_blank">https://fullfact.org/health/nhs-scotland-spending/</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/314" hreflang="en">Scottish National Health Service</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/594" hreflang="en">Public finance</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:41:45 +0000 Stephen Richard 135 at https://indylibrary.scot Believe in Scotland’s Manifesto for Wellbeing. https://indylibrary.scot/believe-in-scotlands-manifesto-for-wellbeing <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Believe in Scotland’s Manifesto for Wellbeing. </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">The National</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Thu, 23/09/2021 - 09:23</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Believe in Scotland</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-05T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">05/03/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/social-welfare" hreflang="en">Social welfare</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Media</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=188&amp;2=like_content" token="3f5qftpmGoKTek-wqJWV2DDySI3wizr_6_6r_CI4pRs"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Ask yourself: wouldn’t you like to live in a country with a social/economic/environmental policy framework based on this set of values? Wouldn’t you like to be able to vote to create such a nation?</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The global health crisis has changed everything. People have come to realise we cannot continue with the old failed way of managing our economy. The system championed by <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/politics/westminster/">Westminster</a> is creating huge inequalities, reducing social mobility, trapping families and pensioners in a cycle of poverty, keeping wages low while prices rise and negatively impacting <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/climate-change/">climate change</a>.</p> <p>If we have learned anything from the banking crisis, <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/brexit/">Brexit</a> and Covid-19 it’s that our economic system and our way of organising society is unsustainable and needs to be reset to focus on the wellbeing of the people, society, the economy and the environment. We need to move away from the concentration on the wealth of nations and focus on the wellbeing of nations. Believe in Scotland is leading the thinking on this and is developing a Manifesto for Wellbeing.</p> <p>Open Minds on Independence #7</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/19140766.open-minds-independence-7-believe-scotlands-manifesto-wellbeing/" target="_blank">https://www.thenational.scot/news/19140766.open-minds-independence-7-believe-sc…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/562" hreflang="en">Wellbeing</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/why-does-scotland-want-independence" hreflang="en">Why does Scotland want independence?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Thu, 23 Sep 2021 08:23:51 +0000 Stephen Richard 188 at https://indylibrary.scot Ending Lockdown https://indylibrary.scot/ending-lockdown <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Ending Lockdown</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Craig Dalzell</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 04/09/2021 - 17:06</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-publisher field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Publisher: </div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2020-04-09T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">09/04/20</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Policy Paper</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=341&amp;2=like_content" token="fOU-CA3gsis0fvicOy090kWFxJjE0QtxmbY7gRFTpSk"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>This paper models the cost of a comprehensive testing-based strategy to limit the spread of Covid-19 in Scotland and to allow the country to emerge safely from its blanket lockdown.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>― Scotland is not proactively testing or contact tracing enough people to determine where potential Covid outbreaks are likely to take place. At the time of writing, Germany was testing four people for every one person tested in Scotland. Hong Kong was testing more than 20 people for every one in Scotland.</p> <p>― The result has been that the virus has spread out of control throughout the country leading to a blanket, national lockdown.</p> <p>― Extended lockdowns are economically damaging. A three month Lockdown is estimated to cost Scotland around £11 billion in lost economic activity.</p> <p>― A model has been adapted to show what it would take to be able to deliver one proactive test to detect an active Covid infection and one antibody test to detect previous infection to every person in Scotland at least once per month.</p> <p>― This high-intensity testing programme would be backed by a network of community-based wellbeing officers who could help with contact tracing chains of infection as well as ensuring that those who have been quarantined are well supported.</p> <p>― The total cost of this programme is estimated at between £1.0 and £1.5 billion to run for a year. The combined economic cost of a three month lockdown plus the social cost of lives lost, shortened or harmed by the pandemic is estimated at around £15 billion.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ending-Lockdown.pdf" target="_blank">https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ending-Lockdown.pdf</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/156" hreflang="en">Covid19</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/632" hreflang="en">Virus testing</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sat, 04 Sep 2021 16:06:43 +0000 Stephen Richard 341 at https://indylibrary.scot The Predictable Crisis https://indylibrary.scot/the-predictable-crisis <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The Predictable Crisis</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Nick Kempe</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 04/09/2021 - 12:29</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-20T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">20/05/20</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Policy Paper</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=432&amp;2=like_content" token="qcW8rHSmBmM1_AqbOw2_QBNVWuZgsvfPcRi2tgaLfnU"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Common Weal investigates the impact of Covid-19 in Scottish Care homes and finds that the warnings about the weaknesses in pandemic preparation were repeatedly ignored with the result of causing “The single greatest failure in devolved government since the creation of the Scottish Parliament”</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>― Based on quality ratings at the outset of the crisis more than one quarter of Scotland’s care homes (those rated adequate or below) could have been expected to be unable properly to protect older people in the event of a pandemic.</p> <p>― The Care Inspectorate does a professional job but has few enforcement powers and works inside a regulatory regime which is very limited in scope. As an example, in February they simply did not have the power to do what has now (eventually) been done at the Home Farm Care Home on Skye. The Care Inspectorate was incapable of brining Care Homes up to the standard required by the Covid crisis and poor quality care is embedded in the system.</p> <p>― The result is that six out of ten care homes in Scotland have had a case of Covid and about 45 per cent still have a current case (as of Monday 18 May) – plus 7.4 per cent of care home staff have been absent with Covid compared to just 4.0 per cent of NHS staff</p> <p>― All of what has resulted was accurately predicted in 2016 but calls to prepare were ignored. In particular there has been a continuing decline in trained medical staff and a rise in unfilled nursing vacancies (52 per cent of private sector Care Homes have nursing vacancies, compared to 15 per cent in the voluntary sector). There is no formal training for Infection Control for non-medical staff in Care Homes in the care SVQ.</p> <p>― In 1993 the Community Care Act transferred responsibility for providing nursing care for Older People from the NHS to the private sector and for the first eight weeks of the crisis the Scottish Government was adamant that the the Providers (and not the Scottish Government) was responsible for protecting care home residents – until a mid-May U-turn. This effectively represented the privatisation of the responsibility for Older People in Care during the crisis and had the later U-turn been made at the<br /> beginning many lives would have been saved.</p> <p>― This meant that medical treatments which could have been delivered in Care Homes (such as the provision of oxygen) were not supported by the Scottish Government who left treatment to the discretion of private companies geared around property finance. In addition the nature of the deaths of Care Home residents was not taken to be a government responsibility and so the use of palliative measures (to make deaths as comfortable as possible) was also left to Providers. This almost certainly means many old people faced an absolutely unnecessarily uncomfortable and painful death. Health staff were not instructed to take the clinical lead in Care Homes until 17 May.</p> <p>― In addition the mental wellbeing of residents was not made a priority, with people being locked in rooms alone for indefinite periods (as a result of Scottish Government advice), with some being told or knowing that they would be likely to die before seeing family members again. A Human Rights approach was not taken, and while individual Care Homes and staff will have done the best they can, no guidance on quality of life was provided.</p> <p>― But the repeated updating of guidelines and the urgent steps taken to remove traces of the preceding guideline created a confusing impact – between 10 May (when revised guidelines issued two days earlier were withdrawn) and 15 May (when new revised guidelines were issued) there were no official Scottish Government guidelines at all.</p> <p>― Private operators have extracted tens of millions of pounds of public money dedicated to care as private profit – and even more has been extracted by ‘flipping’ property which is effectively paid for by the public (the biggest profits in the care sector come from property and not from providing care).</p> <p>― This is all exacerbated not only by the power of private providers and the way they have influenced the decision-making of successive Scottish Governments but also by prevailing management culture which, by emphasising ‘partnership working’, make criticism of the system almost impossible.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Predictable-Crisis.pdf" target="_blank">https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Predictable-Crisis.pdf</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/208" hreflang="en">Aged care</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/317" hreflang="en">Care homes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/672" hreflang="en">Care Inpectorate</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/156" hreflang="en">Covid19</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/515" hreflang="en">Mental health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/191" hreflang="en">Private care</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sat, 04 Sep 2021 11:29:15 +0000 Stephen Richard 432 at https://indylibrary.scot Concern Over Lack Of Testing https://indylibrary.scot/concern-over-lack-of-testing <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Concern Over Lack Of Testing</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 04/09/2021 - 12:08</span> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">26/05/20</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">News Item</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=221&amp;2=like_content" token="pgI95VAWalIem6n_yRfw3WfKCmo_CVvUs_VeP6jRTwM"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>Common Weal’s Local Groups call for an increase in the ambition of its proposed Test, Trace, Isolate and Support plans.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>― The groups are pleased with the Framework in general but are concerned about the lack of scale in its TTIS plan.</p> <p>― The policy of mass testing must be increased to meet the scale demanded by the pandemic.</p> <p>― The Scottish Government should adopt a programme more akin to Common Weal’s previous policy paper on testing, Ending Lockdown.</p> <p>― The group is concerned that attempts by the UK Government to prematurely end restrictions will result in a spike cases and calls for the Scottish Government to resist political pressures to follow suit.</p> <p>― Given the potential negative costs of not controlling the virus, this scheme should not be seen as a “big ask” but as a “sensible and logical ask”.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Local-group-Covid-Response.pdf" target="_blank">https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Local-group-Covid-Response.p…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/156" hreflang="en">Covid19</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/632" hreflang="en">Virus testing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/400" hreflang="en">Social distancing</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sat, 04 Sep 2021 11:08:26 +0000 Stephen Richard 221 at https://indylibrary.scot Common Weal's Manifesto for a National Care Service https://indylibrary.scot/common-weals-manifesto-national-care-service <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Common Weal&#039;s Manifesto for a National Care Service</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal Care Reform Group</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Tue, 17/08/2021 - 09:40</span> <div class="field field--name-field-date-published field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Date Published: </div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2021-01-27T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">27/01/21</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Policy Paper</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=412&amp;2=like_content" token="6WsmTwo2SD7DQQZtQoJooqntNQb--SmDXhysSOsBGzM"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p>This Manifesto lays out the principles of care that should be met by any proposed blueprint for Care reform and will be followed up in due course with a comprehensive blueprint for an NCS that would meet these principles and align with the values of Common Weal.</p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>The Covid crisis has shown up the failings of the social care system in Scotland as never before and the need for a new National Care Service alongside the NHS.  Common Weal submitted <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/submission-review-adult-social-care">a draft set of principles for a National Care Service</a> to the Independent Review of Adult Social Care under Derek Feeley which is due to report by the end of January 2021.  Common Weal has now refined and developed those principles into a Manifesto for a National Care Service which it believes should be used to judge the recommendations of the Adult Care Review.  Common Weal’s Manifesto goes beyond the remit of the Adult Social Care Review and calls for care to be considered as a whole, cradle to grave, children as well as adults. In setting up the Adult Care Review, CW believes the Scottish Government missed an opportunity to end the fragmentation of social care and also to build on the recommendations of the Independent Care Review for Children.</p> <p>If adopted, the principles in the manifesto would result in:</p> <p>– All care being not for profit</p> <p>– Care provision being free at the point of use, like the NHS</p> <p>– Care and support being provided to all who need it, reversing the cuts since the impositions of austerity</p> <p>–  The current care system being transformed through a recognition that relationships are central to what makes good care, not a tick list of tasks</p> <p>–  Care provision becoming far more preventive, reversing the trend to focus on those with “priority” needs</p> <p>–  Care provision being designed from the bottom up, instead of the top down</p> <p>– The entire workforce being paid local authority rates and being properly trained</p> <p>– Service Users, Informal Carers and the workforce being given control where it matters, instead of the current tokenistic emphasis on rights</p> <p>Common Weal believes these principles reflect the aspirations that many people in Scotland have for a new National Care Service. Common Weal has serious concerns about the extent to which the recommendations of the Feeley Review will deliver any of those aspirations which what has prompted us to publish the manifesto now.  </p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Manifesto-for-a-National-Care-Service.pdf" target="_blank">https://commonweal.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Manifesto-for-a-National-Car…</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/479" hreflang="en">Health care</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/666" hreflang="en">National Care Service</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/208" hreflang="en">Aged care</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/451" hreflang="en">Disabled care</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-related-questions field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Related Questions</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/questions/what-health-services-can-scotland-provide" hreflang="en">What health services can Scotland provide?</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:40:47 +0000 Stephen Richard 412 at https://indylibrary.scot Better than This https://indylibrary.scot/better-than-this <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Better than This</span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-or-creator field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Primary Author or Creator:</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/18" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Stephen Richard</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden">Sat, 31/07/2021 - 08:25</span> <div class="field field--name-field-additional-author-s-creato field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Additional Author(s) / Creators</div> <div class="field__item">Common Weal</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-alternative-published-date field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Alternative Published Date</div> <div class="field__item">2021</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Category: </div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/85" hreflang="en">Environment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/104" hreflang="en">Land</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/99" hreflang="en">Democracy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/78" hreflang="en">Social housing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/80" hreflang="en">Energy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/category/banking" hreflang="en">Banking</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-string field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Type of Resource: </div> <div class="field__item">Policy Paper</div> </div> <drupal-render-placeholder callback="flag.link_builder:build" arguments="0=node&amp;1=260&amp;2=like_content" token="HPmxYnmI0EzC7yduO2YR0w3L8649wq5cACStGlBXhzs"></drupal-render-placeholder> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Fast Facts</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>We must emerge from the Covid pandemic in a way that <br /> Fixes the problems raised by the crisis. <br /> Fixes the problems evident before the crisis and makes us resilient.<br /> Implements a green new deal.<br /> Establishes a new democracy. <br /> Begins a national care service.<br /> Starts land reform.<br /> Creates a housing revolution.<br /> Controls our own energy.<br /> Provides better banking<br /> Focus on independence. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-precis field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">More details</div> <div class="field__item"><p>KEY POINTS</p> <p>― Resilient Recovery. We must emerge from the Covid pandemic in a way that fixes the problems raised by the crisis, fixes the problems evident before the crisis and makes us resilient to future crisis like the climate emergency. Based on our <a href="https://commonweal.scot/resilience">Resilience</a> series.</p> <p>― Green New Deal. Averting the climate emergency means more than just hitting a “net zero” target. It is also about making our economies sustainable in so many other ways and doing so in a way that reduces inequality and hardship. Based on <a href="https://commonweal.scot/our-common-home">Our Common Home Plan</a>.</p> <p>― A New Democracy. Scotland is the least locally democratic country in Europe and the institutions of our Government are frayed and strained in many places. We should develop a functioning system of <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/development-councils-proposal-new-system-local-democracy-scotland">local democracy</a>, a <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/citizens-assembly-scottish-parliament">Citizens’ Chamber</a> to oversee Parliament and <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/open-government-note-transparency-public-finance-role-good-data">improve transparency</a> at all levels of government.</p> <p>― A National Care Service. Scotland needs a National Care Service that matches the ambition of the National Health Service, that is fully publicly owned, free at the point of need and can offer full training and proper pay to all staff. See our papers on the impact of <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/predictable-crisis">Covid on Care Homes</a>, our <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/submission-review-adult-social-care">submission to the Feeley Review</a>, the <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/common-weals-manifesto-national-care-service">Manifesto for an NCS</a> and our proposals to <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/struggling-care">reform Social Work</a>.</p> <p>― Land Reform. Fewer than 500 people own half of Scotland. 700,000 acres are owned by tax haven companies. We can’t build our rural economies or fight climate change if we can’t access the land under our feet. Land Reform must happen now. See our <a href="https://commonweal.scot/common-weal-land-reform-week">Land Reform Week</a> for more information.</p> <p>― Housing Revolution. Scotland’s housing sector is badly broken. We don’t build anywhere near <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/good-houses-all">enough social housing</a>, which allows <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/rent-controls-scotland-needs">private rents to skyrocket</a>. The houses we do build <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/carbon-free-poverty-free">are cold</a> and <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/just-warmth">expensive to heat</a>, we can’t <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/public-land-value-capture-new-model-housing-development-scotland">access the land</a> to build them at affordable rates and the way we <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/property-tax-scotland">tax buildings</a> is based on valuations more than a quarter of a  century out of date.</p> <p>― Taking Control of Our Energy. Scotland’s potential for renewable energy generation is world-leading but we aren’t yet making the best of it. Common Weal has produced a <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library?tid%5B34%5D=34">wealth of papers</a> on the changes that need to happen to reach that potential.</p> <p>― Better Banking. Scottish communities were being cut off from banking and basic financial services even before the pandemic. This trend has only accelerated. Without those services, local economies cannot function and the communities are soon left behind. We have a blueprint for a <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/better-banking-public-good-banking-network-scotland">publicly-owned, mutually-controlled bank</a> that could support all communities in Scotland.</p> <p>And finally, the next Parliament will almost certainly see the topic of independence intensify. Everything we’ve suggested above can be at least started using the powers of devolution but to complete the job – especially the Green New Deal – Scotland will need to become independent and will need to do it right. Should the government in Westminster seek to oppose an independence referendum, then we must have a plan to <a href="https://commonweal.scot/policy-library/within-our-grasp">make one happen</a> regardless.</p></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-resource-url field--type-link field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Full Document (link)</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="https://commonweal.scot/policies/better-than-this/" target="_blank">https://commonweal.scot/policies/better-than-this/</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-keywords field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Keywords</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/200" hreflang="en">Coronavirus Support</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/168" hreflang="en">Scottish Independence</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/606" hreflang="en">Housing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/666" hreflang="en">National Care Service</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/502" hreflang="en">Green new deal</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/386" hreflang="en">Climate Emergency</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="field-language-display"> <fieldset class="js-form-item js-form-type-item form-type-item js-form-item- form-item- form-group"> <label>Language</label> English </fieldset> </div> Sat, 31 Jul 2021 07:25:57 +0000 Stephen Richard 260 at https://indylibrary.scot