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Legislation to create smokefree public places has been named as the most important
policy implemented by the Scottish Parliament in the 10 years since devolution,
according to a survey of Scottish doctors conducted by BMA Scotland.
The results of the survey mark the publication of a new BMA Scotland newsletter
today (Monday 29 June) to celebrate 10 years of devolution and the creation
of policy making powers for health in Scotland.
Also featuring in the most popular policies to be implemented in Scotland were:
ending the internal market in healthcare where GPs and hospitals compete to
provide services, introducing free personal care and fee free education.
Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:
“As someone who was initially sceptical of devolution, I am now
a convert. The Scottish Parliament has grown in maturity and has shown great
leadership to progress public health policy and to implement legislation that
is tailored to the needs of the Scottish population.
However, there is still some way to go to tackle the significant challenges
of health inequalities in Scotland – it is not acceptable that people
living in the most deprived communities in Scotland have a life expectancy
of some 10 years less than those in the more affluent areas of our country
The next 10 years of devolution will present significant challenges for
the NHS. With a squeeze in public sector funding, governments will be less
able to introduce populist policies and the focus will need to be firmly placed
on the implementation of evidence based policies with a proven benefit for
health.
The next ten years will present significant challenges for the Scottish
Parliament as we enter a period of recession. It will become essential for
politicians from all parties to work with health professionals to develop
policies that are practical and implementable and most of all, that will have
a positive impact on patient care.”
The newsletter also features a comment piece from Dr John Garner, Chairman
of BMA Scotland from 1999 – 2004 where he reflects on the hopes of doctors
when the Scottish Parliament was first established and highlighting landmark
legislation passed in the first term, including Adults with Incapacity Act and
the Mental Health Act – both which led the way in the UK.
Dr Peter Terry, current chairman of the BMA in Scotland defines the evolution
of health policy and the divergence between the four countries of the UK –
criticising the commercial, market driven approach being adopted in England.
News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors
about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity.
Any views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose
Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by the British Medical Assocition
(BMA) on 29 June 2009
and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding
by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please
visit their website.
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