Yes monthly column No.4
by Unknown - 14:36 on 01 August 2014
First published in The Orcadian in May 2014. Graeme Ramage argues that a Yes vote is the best way to safeguard health and social care services in Scotland.
As a young and enthusiastic student nurse in Glasgow in the late 1980s and early 1990s a number of things struck me which still affect me to this day.
The first of these was working in the East End of Glasgow and meeting people who were living with crippling poverty, poor mental and physical health, lowered life expectancy and reduced opportunities. The second thing was the way that these communities mobilised alongside many others in urban and rural Scotland to successfully overthrow the hated and grossly unfair Poll Tax that had been dumped on Scotland by a Westminster Government that the Scottish electorate hadn’t voted for. The final thing that struck me was the importance of a National Health Service that was free at the point of delivery, for all citizens, no matter their wealth or ability to pay.
As my career developed and I worked in other areas, including Orkney for the last ten years, I returned on many occasions to the themes of unfairness in society and the impact this had on people’s health and wellbeing.
In 2009 I read ‘The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better’ by Richard G. Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. This vitally important book argues that there are pernicious effects that inequality has on societies: eroding trust, increasing anxiety and illness and encouraging excessive consumption. It proved beyond doubt that for each of 11 different health and social problems - physical health, mental health, drug abuse, education, imprisonment, obesity, social mobility, trust and community life, violence, teenage pregnancies, and child well-being - outcomes are significantly worse in unequal rich countries. Countries that were more equal, such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden, provided the best outcomes for all; whereas countries such as the UK and USA, which are grotesquely unequal, had the worst outcomes for all people who lived there.
Throughout my career I have also been aware of the importance of ensuring that all children get as good a start in life as possible to ensure that they can fulfil their potential. Unfortunately, many children all across Scotland do not get the best start in life. Charities have estimated that up to 100,000 more children will be in poverty as a result of changes to social security being made by the current UK government.
An independent Scotland that is represented by people who have been elected by everyone living in Scotland can work towards a fairer society that will address the health inequalities experienced across our urban and rural communities.
An independent Scotland that is free from Westminster would have full control of the financial powers to provide one of the most comprehensive child care packages in Europe, which would ensure that all children are able to get the best start in life.
An independent Scotland that is able to respond to the unique challenges of Scotland will ensure that the NHS in Scotland continues to be a publicly owned and publicly funded health service.
An independent Scotland that values the importance of state-run services will continue to provide high quality and world-leading health and social care in a way that reflects the founding principles of the NHS.
The Scottish Government has continued to provide free prescriptions. Free social care and free personal care is available for everyone aged over 65 and free nursing care is available for people of any age. If we want these services to continue we must ensure that Scotland is governed by the people it voted for.
I am not a Nationalist nor do I particularly care for Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon. I am simply somebody who has spent all of my adult life working in health and social care with some of the most vulnerable people in society in both urban and rural communities. I have seen the benefits of a National Health Service. I have witnessed lives being changed by the ability to access the right support at the right time. I have been present where children have been able to reach their potential and lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. I have seen evidence of the difference that a more equal and fair society can make to people.
However, there are still too many people living all across Scotland whose lives are blighted by poverty, poor mental and physical health, lowered life expectancy and reduced opportunities. There are still too many children in urban and rural areas that are not able to fulfil their potential because their life chances are being destroyed by poverty and inequality.
To ensure that all children have the best start in life, to guarantee that the NHS continues to provide top quality services, and to keep meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities I will be voting Yes in September 2014.
Graeme Ramage
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