ALLIANCE Live The ALLIANCE

Welcome to the Health and Social Care Academy's Right to Health Podcast Special, with the ALLIANCE’s policy and information officer, Billi Allen-Mandeville.

Following on from the publication of our report, “Investigating Knowledge and Understanding of the Right to Health” and to celebrate World Health Day, in this episode we explore what the right to health is and what it looks, and could look like, for people and practice across Scotland.

We know that everyone in Scotland has the fundamental right to “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” according to the World Health Organisation and under International Law.

However, high levels of health inequalities continue to exist in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK and Europe.

We will be chatting with experts including Dr Rebecca Mason from Young Women's Movement Scotland, GP Fellow at the University of Glasgow and Deep End GP Dr Marianne McCallum, Dr Tony Robertson of the People’s Health Movement and the University of Stirling, and CEMVO’s Human Rights Officer Clare Gallagher.

We hope you enjoy the Health and Social Care Academy’s Right to Health Podcast Special.

Join Sara Redmond, Chief Officer at the ALLIANCE, as she guides a compelling conversation with pioneering women Ramatu Umar Bako, Satya Dunning, and Twimukye Mushaka Macline. Dive into this thought-provoking podcast discussing the crucial dialogue on diversity and positive change in health and social care.

Learn how the ALLIANCE's strategic vision for Scotland aligns with promoting a strong voice and dignified living for all. Explore the challenges to health and wellbeing, including navigating cultural differences highlighted by Ramatu and the impact of societies reaction to race in relation to our identity shared by Satya.

Discover the essential role of networks in fostering inclusive spaces for individuals to voice their health needs and collaborate towards meaningful change. Join us in celebrating the resilience of women as we pave pathways to a healthier, more equitable society.

'Lead Courageously' is one of the Health and Social Care Academy's Five Ambitions for the Future of Health and Care.

In this episode, we spoke to Anna Fowlie, CEO of SCVO, about what it means to lead courageously from within the third sector, whilst exploring the ways in which systems can better accommodate courageous, compassionate and collective approaches to leadership.

We sat down with Kayla to explore how being a courageous leader doesn’t have to mean you look and sound a certain way, and how true leadership is about being vulnerable. They spoke to us about overcoming people’s initial perceptions, and how young people everywhere can get involved as a leader in the third sector.

Tune to this episode, and visit our website to see other instalments in our Courageous Leadership series. 

‘The Opportunity is Now – human rights in health and social care in Scotland: where we’ve been and the journey ahead’ is a new report published by the ALLIANCE in partnership with Branch Social Research. The report seeks to explore the impact of human rights based approaches within health and social care practice.

Gillian McElroy, Senior Policy Officer at the ALLIANCE speaks with Jo Ferrie, Branch Social Research and Cathy Asante, Scottish Human Rights Commission to discuss the reports findings, it's recommendations and how Scottish Government can respond to prioritise the human rights agenda.

Read the full report: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/resources/the-opportunity-is-now-human-rights-in-health-and-social-care/

The recently published Coming Home Implementation Report has caused concern for people with disabilities, their families, and disability organisations. We speak with a panel of experts on how the report signals yet another failure of the system to meaningfully change the culture within it. Another opportunity lost to ensure that individuals can be given the necessary provision to ensure they can live in their own communities. 

The panel also discusses the actions which can still be taken to reassure citizens that change is happening.  This roundtable discussion welcomes C-Change Chief Executive, Sam Smith, journalist and campaigner, Michael McEwan, disability activist, Jim Elderwood-Ward, and Ruth Hughes, mum to Gordon who has been stuck in an institution for longer than he needs to be. The conversation is led by ALLIANCE Chief Officer Sara Redmond.   

This podcast was recorded on Friday 28th October 2022.