Tackling Health Inequality Together

Public sector organisations across Scotland have a key role to play in taking action to mitigate the negative health impact of the welfare benefits reforms in 2012. The responsibility of health boards in particular is regularly underlined by the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland in asking boards to recognise and act to alleviate the detrimental impact that poverty can have on health and the unique position health professionals have in helping to address this.

NHS Lanarkshire’s commitment to this is reflected in our strategic objective to tackle health inequalities, including working with other public sector partners on issues like child poverty and period poverty, as well as paying the living wage and influencing our contractors to do the same.

The Scottish Government has identified the most vulnerable groups as:

• People in low paid work, including NHS employees and contracted staff who maybe in low paid and/or part-time employment and/or on fixed term contracts;
• Those with disabilities, including learning disabilities, and those with long term conditions;
• People with mental health conditions in receipt of benefits or in low paid employment;
• Children in low income families;
• Women in low income households, particularly lone parents, carers and those experiencing gender based violence;
• Larger families in receipt of benefits or in low paid employment; and
• Low income pensioners.

Some healthcare professionals regularly come onto contact with patients from these groups within services such as Speech and Language, OT, mental health, maternity, addictions, pediatrics, community nurses and health visitors. However all staff have a responsibility and a role to play in tackling poverty.

Healthcare professionals have a significant role to play in a number of ways:

• Looking for and recognising when poverty or money worries may be an issue for patients;
• Opening up a conversation with patients to find out where they might need help;
• Signposting patients to information and services that will help them and encouraging them to access these; and
• Helping to reduce the stigma around poverty.

The information on this page can support you to fulfil this role, by providing knowledge and guidance, helping to build your confidence in tackling health inequality and improving the health and wellbeing of people in Lanarkshire.

You’ll find documents from a range of our public sector partners as well as links to websites that provide advice, guidance and support to people experiencing financial difficulties.

South Lanarkshire has created the booklet When Money is Tight which has practical advice for when budgets are stretched, with information to help you make ends meet.

North Lanarkshire has created a resource Your Money that provides information, advice and contact details on tacking financial hardship.