The link between such socio-economic deprivation and health outcomes is well known and the targeting of rising health inequalities is a challenge in the Western Isles. The remote and rural nature of Western Isles’ communities makes the challenge yet more difficult as deprivation here is not found in the concentrations seen in urban areas. Such urban concentrations can be readily targeted. In the Western Isles with more heterogenous communities deprivation is found on individual basis and as a result is often less visible. The challenge for services is how to tackle the inequalities that exist in a targeted manner given their geographical distribution.
In recognition of the challenge of identifying rural areas of deprivation the Office of the Chief Statistician produced a methodology based on the existing SIMD and Rural classified areas to identify those rural areas with greatest levels of deprivation in terms of income, employment and accessibility. Areas within the Western Isles featured strongly as those most deprived across rural Scotland. (see map below).
Source: Office of Chief Statistician and Ordnance Survey
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