Dear colleagues in the minority ethnic health list, Edinburgh Migration and Ethnicity and Health Research Group (Juneda, please circulate) and in the Migrant and Ethnic Health Section of EUPHA (Allan, please circulate), I hope you will find this information of some interest.

Here is the link to the report: http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/24431.aspx

Raj
R S Bhopal, Bruce and John Usher Professor of Public Health
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in
Scotland, with registration number SC005336

NHS HEALTH SCOTLAND PRESS RELEASE

Date: 19 November 2014

New Migrant and Ethnic Health Research Strategy for Scotland

A leading Scottish research group drawn from Scottish Universities, voluntary organisations and the NHS is launching its new plan to study the health of migrants and ethnic minority groups at the European Public Health Conference this week in Glasgow. The refreshed Scottish Migrant and Ethnic Health Research Strategy (SMEHRS) sets research priorities for migrant and ethnic health improvement in Scotland up to 2019. The strategy was developed by the SMEHRS group, co-ordinated by NHS Health Scotland, and consisting of experts on migrant and ethnic health research from the NHS, several universities, the voluntary sector, and the Scottish Government.

The new approach responds to fresh challenges in the light of changing ethnic composition, migration trends and newly identified research gaps. These differ from England because Scotland has a proportionately smaller ethnic minority population than England, and a contrasting environment that encourages migration to Scotland.

The original strategy for ethnic health research in Scotland has led to world leading research in this area by the Scottish Health Ethnicity Linkage study (SHELs). SHELs has linked the health data for most of Scottish population to their self-reported ethnicity as provided by the 2001 census, pinpointing where ethnic groups suffer worse health than the rest of the Scottish population. Additionally, the research prompted the collection of ethnicity for everyone at the time of death registration, which will enable closer tracking of trends in mortality rates for ethnic groups including native Scots.

“The new strategy has broadened the ethnic health research focus to include a greater emphasis on migrant health, researching the reasons for better health in some ethnic groups. This knowledge could enable the wider population to share those health advantages.” said Dr Andrew Fraser, Director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland. “The strategy also develops our knowledge of how to improve access to health services for the ethnic and social groups in the greatest need.”

This new strategy will enable health boards to improve their plans for services that meet the needs of their local communities.

Ends

For further information please contact Vivienne Wilson, Corporate Communications Manager on 07500 854574 or email [log in to unmask].

Notes to Editors:

Here is the link to the report: http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/24431.aspx

www.healthscotland.com

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