Health and social care - service renewal framework: equality impact assessment

Recommendations and Conclusion

The development of the SRF has been informed by a broad range of evidence on health inequalities in Scotland, including disparities experienced by individuals and communities across various protected characteristics. The Framework sets out a high-level, strategic approach aimed at improving population health and reducing health inequalities, adopting an approach focused on prevention, early intervention and addressing the wider determinants of health.

Given the strategic nature of the Framework, the actions outlined within do not allow for a full assessment of impacts on specific protected characteristics to be carried out at this stage. However, the overall direction of travel – focusing on prevention, person-led care, equity and system-wide improvement and how this can be enabled through digital options is intended to be a positive step toward advancing equality and tackling structural disadvantage in the longer term.

As the Framework is implemented and specific actions are fully developed, it will be essential to conduct more detailed Equalities Impact Assessments at that level. This will help ensure that individual interventions are shaped with full consideration of their potential impact on people with protected characteristics and that they are taken forward in ways that target those most in need and address the inequalities in outcomes between these groups.

It is therefore recommended that equality considerations remain embedded throughout the delivery of the Framework, with appropriate monitoring and engagement mechanisms in place. The collaborative plans should set out how this impact assessment will be built on when considering specific actions and interventions, giving due regard to the public sector equality duty.

We also recognise that Scotland’s population, health needs and societal challenges will continue to evolve. The Framework will therefore be kept under review and adapted to respond to emerging evidence and future developments. This will include a continued focus on targeting actions to meet the specific needs of individual groups, with the aim of further reducing inequality and ensuring that the benefits of improved population health are experienced equitably across all communities.