Public Health Scotland (PHS) and University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE) will collaborate with the council in the Scottish Marmot Place pilot.

A Marmot Place recognises that health and health inequalities are mostly shaped by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. It takes action to improve health and reduce health inequalities by identifying places which need specific action to improve health outcomes.

The partnership, the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES), will see PHS join forces with IHE, a leading global Health Institute led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

Despite competition from across the country, South Lanarkshire was selected as one of three areas in Scotland to take part in the pilot, along with Aberdeen City and North Ayrshire. The local partnership includes the council, NHS Lanarkshire and other Community Planning partners.

Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Councillor Joe Fagan said: “Our approach to neighbourhood planning already incorporates an evidence-based approach, but working with Professor Sir Marmot, Public Health Scotland and the Institute of Health Equity will help us understand more and do more.

“We all recognise the need to maximise the impact we make with the resource we have available, to provide not just the best possible services but also best value for public money as we deliver effective prevention and work to eradicate inequalities.”

Paul Johnston, Chief Executive at PHS said: “If we are to address the stark inequalities that exist in Scotland and create conditions in which people can thrive in their communities, we need to bring together partners across the whole system – the public, private and voluntary sector.

“We’re looking forward to working and learning together with a determined focus to see improvement in Scotland’s long-term health outcomes.”

Professor Sir Michael Marmot (pictured above), Director of the IHE said: “By drawing on the data that both the IHE and PHS hold on the drivers of health inequalities and applying the learning we have gained from working in places like Coventry and Hull, we can support local partners to develop policies and actions that work locally.”