Public Health Scotland Update

Drug-related harms increase across Scotland

Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published its latest Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response (RADAR) quarterly report. Figures show increased levels of drug-related harm across Scotland, underlining the need for continued action.

Healthy life expectancy in Scotland falls to near ten-year low

New figures from National Records of Scotland show the time people in Scotland can expect to live in good health, without serious illness or disability, has fallen to a near ten-year low.

Read our news article reflecting on these figures, and what we think can be done to tackle the root causes of ill health and build a Scotland where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.   

Co-Directors to lead National Scottish Pandemic Sciences Partnership appointed

PHS is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Deborah Williamson and Professor Emma Thomson as Co-Directors of the National Scottish Pandemic Sciences Partnership (NSPSP).

Older adults encouraged to take up RSV vaccine offer

RSV is a common and highly infectious virus that affects the breathing system. It generally causes mild illness with cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough, fever, or decrease in appetite. RSV can be very serious for those who are at the highest risk of serious illness from the infection, including older adults and babies.

Update on measles in Scotland - ensure everyone in your family is fully protected

As measles cases continue to increase across the world, including in England where outbreaks continue, PHS is continuing to encourage the public to take up the offer of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Urgent call to tackle child poverty in the UK

Leading public health experts from from Public Health Scotland, Faculty of Public Health, Royal Society for Public Health, and Scottish Directors of Public Health have issued a joint statement highlighting the urgent need to address child poverty in the UK.

Reaching the right voices: SDF’s approach to the National Mission evaluation

In early 2024, PHS approached the Research and Peer Engagement team at Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) to support one of the work packages of the evaluation of the Scottish Government's National Mission.

This guest blog explores the approach and reflections from Samantha Stewart, Research and Peer Engagement Senior Officer at SDF, alongside peer researchers, who facilitated the research across Scotland to gather views and experiences people with lived and living experience of using substances and accessing treatment.

Scottish Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme 2024/25: Service delivery evaluation

The Scottish Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Programme 2024/25 Service Delivery Evaluation Report summarises findings of the RSV vaccination programme introduced in August 2024. 

Scottish pregnancy, births and neonatal data dashboard

This release of the Scottish Pregnancy, Births and Neonatal Data (SPBAND) dashboard by PHS presents data on CORE measures related to care in 'Pregnancy' and for 'Births and babies' in Scotland.

Health in the early years (HEYS) dashboard

This quarterly release by PHS of the Health in the Early Years in Scotland (HEYS) Dashboard presents data on measures related to breastfeeding and early child development in Scotland.