Public Health Scotland

Public Health Scotland Update

30 June 2025

Welcome to the June edition of the Public Health Scotland Newsletter. The past month has seen the release of new blogs, publications and the latest health news from the Public Health Scotland website. We encourage you to browse our latest updates and gain an insight into how we are working towards a Scotland where everybody thrives.

Latest News

Scotland’s alcohol consumption continues to exceed safe levels

New data published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) reveals people in Scotland are drinking 50% above safe limits, with more deprived communities hit hardest.
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New Director of Clinical and Protecting Health at Public Health Scotland

Dr Diane Stockon has started her new role as Director of Clinical and Protecting Health at PHS.
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A girl and an older woman sitting on a sofa. The girl is laughing, and has a green plastic toy on her lap.

PHS publishes Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report for 2024

PHS has published its second Annual Vaccination and Immunisation report. This reviews the activities of Scotland’s vaccination and immunisation programme in 2024 and offers insight from the successes and challenges of the country’s largest coordinated public health programme.
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Public Health Scotland welcomes ban on disposable vapes

PHS welcomes the latest steps to create a smokefree generation with the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland, which came into effect on 1 June 2025.
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From our blog

Public Health Scotland welcomes bold new Frameworks to tackle health inequality

In this blog, Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland, reflects on the publication of the Population Health and Service Renewal Frameworks by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), which aim to improve health and wellbeing in Scotland by addressing social and economic factors.
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Increasing cancer prevalence – the story behind the projections

In this joint blog, two of our Consultants in Public Health Medicine, Professor David Morrison, Director of the Scottish Cancer Registry and Dr Fatim Lakha, explore the seemingly paradoxical good news within Scotland’s rising cancer statistics – and what it means for our future health and care system.
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Breaking down barriers: A tiered approach to getting Scotland moving

Following the publication of the Physical Activity Referral Standards from PHS in 2022, the tiered approach to Scotland’s physical activity interventions has been revisited to help healthcare professionals plan and provide physical activity. For Scotland’s National Day of Movement, Dionne Mackison, Head of Place, Environment and Health Harms at PHS, reflected on the opportunity that this new guidance offers to support more people to become—and stay— physically active by tackling the barriers that stand in their way.
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Read more PHS blogs

New Publications

Childhood immunisation statistics Scotland

This release provides quarterly statistics (Jan – March 2025) as well as a year-end (1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025) update of immunisation uptake rates for children in Scotland.
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Mental health in and through work: findings from participatory arts-based qualitative research

This report outlines findings from participatory arts-based research which explores experiences of mental health, employment and economic inactivity.
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Read more PHS Publications
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