Deacon unveils £10m health plan

Ms Deacon wants to see health improvements

The Scottish Executive has announced plans for the creation of more than 80 new community health posts.

Health Minister Susan Deacon unveiled a £10m package to provide communities across the country with their own public health practitioner.

The minister also revealed detailed plans to boost training for up to 200 school nurses and health visitors.

Ms Deacon said that the initiatives were needed to rid Scotland of its tag as "the sick man of Europe".

This is a splendid development. It will see nurses develop their full potential in the challenge of improving Scotland's health

Phil Hanlon
Public Health Institute of Scotland

Ms Deacon said: "Scotland's ill health compares unfavourably with that of many other European nations.

"Already this extra investment is creating more breakfast clubs, providing fruit in nursery schools, free toothbrushes and toothpaste for our babies and toddlers, and help for those wanting to quit smoking.

"The Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health, sets out how the skills and professionalism of the NHS can be put at the service of the people of Scotland."

'Ground breaking'

Bridget Hunter, lead officer for nurses, midwives and health visitors for Unison said the union welcomed the move.

She said: "We support the view that in order to address inequalities in health, we require a fully skilled team of staff approaching health from a holistic, integrated and global perspective."

Ms Deacon described the initiative as "ground breaking" and said the new health workers will act as "champions" for health improvement in their respective areas.

Professor Phil Hanlon of the Public Health Institute of Scotland said: "This is a splendid development.

"It will see nurses develop their full potential in the challenge of improving Scotland's health."