CHEST Heart & Stroke Scotland, is urging further action to ensure that everyone across Scotland has an equal chance of survival and recovery from a heart condition or a stroke.

The call comes after the latest figures from ISD Scotland highlight the stark inequalities across Scotland’s communities, with mortality rates for both heart disease and stroke significantly higher in the most deprived areas.

The mortality rate for cerebrovascular disease in the most deprived areas was 36.0% higher than in the least deprived areas in 2017.

Those living in the most deprived areas of Scotland have a death rate from heart disease that is six times higher than those living in the least deprived areas.

I know that the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area is one that suffers from deprivation and strongly supports the charity shop in Cowdenbeath.

These worrying figures show how far we need to go to help everyone with heart conditions and stroke in Scotland to survive and live life to the full.

It’s incredibly concerning to see that deprivation still has such a strong influence on someone’s survival. We also know that it affects people’s access to vital services.

Our recent ‘One in Five’ survey revealed that people in our poorest communities found it harder to access the support they need, and are less likely to receive rehabilitation.

Together we need to step up our work on prevention to stop these diseases in their tracks. The Scottish Government also need to commit to a universal and equal right to rehab that reaches every community in Scotland.

That means ending the variation in access to NHS rehab services across the country, joining them up with community groups, investing in the right staff and making sure that everyone has access to a specialist nurse for as long as they need them.

Action on this is a matter of life and health.

JANE-CLAIRE JUDSON,

Chief Executive, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.