About the ScotPHO collaboration

The Scottish Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO) collaboration is led by Public Health Scotland, and includes the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory.

We aim to provide a clear picture of the health of the Scottish population and the factors that affect it. We contribute to improved collection and use of routine data on health, risk factors, behaviours and wider health determinants. We take a lead in determining Scotland's future public health information needs, develop innovations in public health information and provide a focus for new routine public health information development where gaps exist.

We achieve this through our website, by publishing a variety of one-off reports and by contributing to and leading national public health data projects. Through our work we help those involved in public health and health improvement in Scotland access and use the information they need to understand and improve Scotland's health and reduce health inequalities.

We work closely with the Scottish Government's Health Analytical Services Division, Government colleagues who run ScotStat and others involved in public health intelligence in Scotland and beyond. We link to users of local and national health information through the Public Health Information Network for Scotland (PHINS). We also link with the Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) to promote best use of public health information.

ScotPHO steering group

The work of ScotPHO is coordinated by a steering group which includes representatives of the partner agencies involved, including Public Health Scotland, the Glasgow Centre for Population Health, the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, National Records of Scotland and the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory. The group also includes representatives from the Scottish Directors of Public Health, Scottish public health academics, COSLA and the Scottish Government. The steering group meets three to four times annually.

ScotPHO collaboration partners

Public Health Scotland, which launched on 1st April 2020, brings together ISD Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and Health Protection Scotland. It is Scotland’s lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all of Scotland’s people. It is jointly accountable to both the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). Its focus is on increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing premature mortality. To do this, it uses data, intelligence and a place-based approach to lead and deliver Scotland’s public health priorities. Public Health Scotland aims to build on the firm foundations and the proud legacies of ISD Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and Health Protection Scotland. Its areas of work include sharing data and intelligence, health protection and improving health and wellbeing.

The Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) seeks to generate insights and evidence, support new approaches, and inform and influence action to improve health and tackle inequality. Working with a wide range of partners, it conducts research of direct relevance to policy and practice; facilitates and stimulates the exchange of ideas, fresh thinking and debate; and supports processes of development and change. Its work has a focus on the particular characteristics of the city of Glasgow, but its learning and approaches are transferable to other cities worldwide. The GCPH is a partnership between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Council, and the University of Glasgow, and is funded by the Scottish Government.

The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit is part of the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. It is jointly funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO). The Unit has a multidisciplinary research team of staff and students working to understand how different factors – social, behavioural, economic, political and environmental – affect the health and wellbeing of people and populations. The team are also working to understand why these factors affect people differently and to identify the best ways to improve health and reduce inequalities.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) collects, preserves and produces information about Scotland's people and history and makes it available to inform current and future generations. NRS performs the registration and statistical functions of the Registrar General for Scotland and the archival functions of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland, holding records spanning the 12th to the 21st centuries. It is the repository for the public and legal records of Scotland. It is also responsible for the statutes relating to the formalities of marriage and civil partnership and the conduct of civil marriage. It administers the registration of life events such as births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships, divorces and adoptions. It takes the census of Scotland’s population every 10 years and prepares and publishes regular demographic statistics.

The Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory (SLDO) was set up to provide better information about the health and health care of people with learning disabilities and people with autism in Scotland. It aims to generate high quality evidence to build understanding of the health and health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and autism. It generates and translates information into knowledge, that is designed to inform actions, practice and policy to benefit people with learning disabilities and autism. It contributes to health improvement by providing information, data, and intelligence on the health and health care of people with learning disabilities and autism in Scotland. It turns this information and data into meaningful health intelligence for practitioners, commissioners, policymakers and the wider community.