NHS Health Scotland, Scotland’s health improvement agency
The role of NHS Health Scotland is to improve health, reduce health inequalities
and promote equality in health and healthcare provision.
A Special Health Board, it works with all NHSScotland Health Boards, and organisations across the public sector and voluntary sector to provide and use research evidence and expertise to help shape and deliver services and information for healthcare professionals and the public.
NHS Health Scotland works to be:
- A national advocate for health improvement;
- The national organisation people go to for advice, help and support on health
improvement and health inequalities;
- Provide expertise on what is needed to improve and sustain health, including changes in society, organisations and individuals;
- The partner of choice for any organisation, sharing our ambitions for improved
health and equality in health.
NHS Health Scotland’s website - www.healthscotland.com - provides information on health improvement topics for healthcare professionals including research, strategies, and information on services and programmes of work.
NHS Health Scotland is also responsible for public information websites on specific subjects. These include:
Childsmile
Childsmile is a programme dedicated to reducing inequalities in oral health and ensuring access to dental services for all children in Scotland. This website has information and practical advice for parents how to care for their children’s oral health.
http://www.child-smile.org.uk/
Choose Life
Choose Life is Scotland’s national strategy and action plan to reduce suicide in Scotland. This website provides provides information to those seeking help and separately also provides information on the strategy and work being undertaken.
http://www.chooselife.net/
Healthy Working Lives
The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, part of NHS Health Scotland, helps employers, employees and organisations which work with the Centre to come together to create a much healthier and more motivated workforce. This website contains information about free, confidential workplace visits, practical advice and the Healthy Working Lives Award Programme.
http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/
Immunisation Scotland
Immunisation programmes delivered by the NHS in Scotland are supported by the Immunisation Scotland website which provides information on why immunisation is important, when to immunise, what vaccines are available and which diseases these protect against.
http://www.immunisationscotland.org.uk/
Keep Well Scotland
Keep Well health checks are a free health check for people aged 40-64 living in certain areas of Scotland. This website explains these simple checks, makes suggestions for ways to improve health and contains a healthy living guide.
http://www.keepwellscotland.org.uk/
Ready Steady Baby!
This website provides information to those planning to have a baby, or who are already pregnant. It gives a guide to pregnancy, birth and parenthood including what to expect during labour and birth; what to do in the first days and weeks after birth and has a timeline to keep you pregnant women up to date about what tests to expect, and how a baby develops. The website is a companion to the Ready Steady Baby! book provided to all pregnant women.
http://www.readysteadybaby.org.uk/
Ready Steady Toddler!
Ready Steady Toddler! provides a guide to help parents through the challenges and rewards of parenting toddlers. The website includes interactive features to help guide people to ‘toddler-proof’ homes and how to deal with tantrums.
http://www.readysteadytoddler.org.uk/
Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid
Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid is an acclaimed training course to help people learn what to do if someone is struggling with their mental health and they think might need help or are being turned to. This website provides information on what the training course involves and where and when the courses are available.
http://www.smhfa.com/
Walk the Talk
Walk the Talk is a programme to help healthcare professionals develop more youth-friendly services where they are caring for young people. This website provides practical toolkits, cases and other information.
http://www.walk-the-talk.org.uk/