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Joint Health Improvement Plan

Summary

Overall the health profile for Aberdeenshire is good compared to the rest of Grampian and Scotland overall. However this must be read in the context of Scotland's position, "at or near the top of the international "league tables" of the major diseases of the developed world- coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke- this is unacceptable and largely preventable" (Towards a healthier Scotland, 1999).

We still have a lot of work to do to tackle the pockets of health inequality which exist within Aberdeenshire. This first or preliminary Joint Health Improvement Plan has been developed by a group of representatives of the eight Community Planning partners working across Aberdeenshire and will operate from 2003 to 2005.

It provides a framework for local delivery of corporate policy across a range of issues related to the wider determinants of health. The role of each of the eight Community Planning partners is detailed via the joint action plan drawn up to improve health and wellbeing and achieve the targets set for Aberdeenshire.

It outlines the key national and local agendas for health improvement and provides a profile of the health improvement needs for Aberdeenshire. The following key issues for Aberdeenshire are highlighted:

  • Mental health & wellbeing, e.g. anxiety, depression, dementia, stress
  • Lack of self esteem and motivation to adopt healthier behaviours
  • Rural disadvantage - access to quality services/transport/rural isolation/affordable housing

A number of lifestyle issues are also identified:

  • 'Binge drinking' – and general problems related to the misuse of alcohol
  • Poor diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Number of young adults smoking/smoking in pregnancy
  • Drug and alcohol misuse

Action to address these key themes is organised into the four key lifestages outlined by the Scottish Executives strategic health document: Improving Health in Scotland – The Challenge (2003).

  • Early years
  • Teenage transition
  • Adults of working age
  • Communities (including communities of interest e.g. older people)

The focus throughout the Joint Health Improvement Plan is on targeting efforts towards the most disadvantaged and tackling health inequalities.

The need to work in partnership and use evidence based practice in the delivery and monitoring of the actions is emphasised.

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