Scottish Centre for Social Research continues its work on the Scottish Health Survey from 2024-2026

The Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen) has been successful in retaining the Scottish Health Survey contract for the 2024 to 2026 surveys. The Scottish Health Survey is commissioned by the Scottish Government to provide reliable information on the health, and factors related to health, of people living in Scotland that cannot be obtained from other sources.

ScotCen has collected data for the survey since its inception in 1995. The Scottish Health Survey is designed to provide a comprehensive picture of the health of the Scottish population to inform policy-making and service delivery. The survey collects unique, comprehensive and invaluable national data on health outcomes.

Data from the study is crucial in informing many Scottish Government health policy discussions and initiatives. Since 2007, survey data has contributed to the National Performance Framework with the inclusion of national indicators on smoking, child obesity, physical activity, general health and adult wellbeing. Furthermore, survey data has been used to inform policy delivery plans such as the Alcohol Framework 2018: Preventing Harm, next steps on changing our relationship with alcohol and A Healthier Future – Scotland’s Diet and Healthy Weight Delivery Plan.

Victoria Wilson, Research Director at the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen), said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our work with the Scottish Government on the Scottish Health Survey for an additional three years. The survey’s long-standing time series, which stretches back to 1995, can be used to examine long-term trends in the health outcomes and behaviours and makes a major contribution to understanding and monitoring the health of people in Scotland.”

For more information please contact:
Emileigh Spurdens, Communications Manager
t:020 7549 8506 e: emileigh.spurdens@natcen.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

• The Scottish Centre for Social Research is part of the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), Britain’s largest independent social research organisation.NatCen aims to make life better through high quality social research (www.natcen.ac.uk).
• Data from previous Scottish Health Surveys is available on the UK data service data archive. (https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-Series-2000047)