Support from the Start East Lothian’s Equally Well test site Dr Sue Ross – Executive Director, East Lothian Council

East Lothian One of 32 Scottish Unitary Councils Known as ‘Edinburgh’s garden’ Fastest growing population in Scotland (90,155) A good place to live, bring up families & retire to. Lot of service pressures esp. housing, and care services for older people Health is slightly above Scots average Inequality is the issue

20 th century trends in life expectancy in Scotland and 16 other Western European countries Life expectancy in years Scotland

Health Inequality in East Lothian Percentages – source Community Health Profile 2004

Health Inequality in East Lothian Percentages – source Community Health Profile 2004

Health Inequality in East Lothian Percentages – source Community Health Profile 2004

Ministerial Taskforce Report – June 2008 “Scotland’s health is improving rapidly but it is not improving fast enough for the poorest sections of our society. Health inequalities remain our major challenge”

The National Programme Health inequalities as Health Ministers’ top priority Key priority areas of children’s very early years; the big killer diseases of cardiovascular disease and cancer; drug and alcohol problems and links to violence; and mental health and wellbeing Established eight test site to find new ways of working at a community partnership level

Community Planning Partners making a difference by focusing services on pathways that can reduce health inequality in the early years of life.

The Test Site approach Consistent parenting, safe, nurturing early years, supportive education Health behaviours Opportunity to escape poverty. To have decent housing, social networks, self esteem, control

Key Elements of Approach Leadership – strategic, service & community champions Learning – what works Engage with Communities Mainstream services Innovation

Activities Action learning sets Health & Early Years Learning Network Civic Conversation Social marketing Service mapping & redesign Measuring and evaluating change

And finally This is a change process – if we keep on doing what we have always done then we will not address the equity issues in our community

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