The CHES will inform national and local approaches and support the development and implementation of policies to tackle health inequalities. To help deepen understanding of inequalities locally and address why existing approaches have not had the intended impacts on health and health inequalities, the CHES will work with three places: Aberdeen City, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. The work with the three places is intended to both support and shape action within the three places and inform national stakeholders about ways to strengthen action on health and the social determinants of health.

This collaboration brings together Public Health Scotland (PHS) and Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director of University College London's Institute of Health Equity (IHE) with councils and health boards in Aberdeen City, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire.

An overview of Health Inequalities in Scotland - the first report from the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES) is published today. This introductory report overviews widening health inequalities in Scotland and also highlights health inequalities within the above-mentioned CHES collaborating places.

Following this first report, we have published the second CHES report which provides an overview of inequalities in the social determinants of health in Scotland and the three places, alongside analysis of resource allocations across Scotland and how those relate to levels of deprivation across Scotland. 

Next steps include the three collaborating places developing and implementing local approaches based on the CHES analysis and approach.  The national system is continuing to inform and adapt to the CHES approach and the current focus is on proportionate universalism in relation to the design and delivery of programmes and in resource allocations. The CHES is also assessing the most effective national policies for greater health equity.

Read more on the CHES summary of learning, from the site selection process - here

Read more on Public Health Scotland's website on the planned work: https://publichealthscotland.scot/news/2025/february/bold-new-collaboration-to-tackle-health-inequalities-launches-in-three-local-areas-in-scotland/