Current Health Improvement Work

Antenatal Inequalities

The Health Improvement team have been involved in the development of an 'Education and Learning Plan to support the implementation of: The Refreshed Framework for Maternity Care in Scotland, Reducing Antenatal Health Inequalities Outcome Focussed Evidence into Action Guidance, and Maternal and Infant Nutrition - A Framework for Action'.

Please see the maternity care pages for further information.

Person-Centredness

NES has been tasked by the Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD) with providing support for NHS staff through the development of education and training which allows them to deliver person-centred care, underpinned by the Patient Rights (Scotland) Bill (external link). The developing educational approaches and their implementation 2011-2013 will support the delivery of a number of related policies and ongoing programmes of work including: inequalities-sensitive practice, Better Together, the Participation Standard, and Equally Well.

Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap is an online learning resource developed by NHS Education for Scotland which provides pre-registration Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs) and others involved in tackling health inequalities in Scotland with flexible learning opportunities. Bridging the Gap introduces some of the key evidence, issues and themes in health and social inequalities, provides access to a range of add-on resources and links to further information. Bridging the Gap can be found at www.bridgingthegap.scot.nhs.uk (external link).

Sexual and Reproductive Health

In 2001 the Scottish Government consulted extensively on its proposed strategy to address issues affecting sexual health and well-being. In 2005 the Scottish Sexual Health and Relationship Strategy - Respect and Responsibility was launched. This has now been replaced by the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework 2011 - 2015.

There have been a number of NES initiatives as part of the drive to improve competence and to develop a skilled and flexible workforce able to deliver better health and healthcare services:

As the competencies were published some years ago and in response to requests to modify the competency record book, it was decide to refresh both these documents and develop a Sexual and Reproductive Health Nursing Competencies Portfolio. This portfolio encompasses the competencies and is to be completed by post-registration students undertaking programmes of education in sexual and reproductive health nursing and also practitioners to evidence their continuing professional development.

NHS Education for Scotland also continues to support the Sexual Health Lead Nurse Forum.

Public Health