Report finds 'clear human rights failures' in southern Scotland

A report has found that people across the south of Scotland are facing “clear human rights failures”.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) carried out surveys over eight different local authority areas across the country.

In February and March, they visited Stranraer, Ayr, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Hamilton, Irvine, Arran, Galashiels, Kelso, Dalkeith, Haddington, Melrose, Ardrossan and Tranent.

The SHRC concluded that the public authorities are “denying people in the South of Scotland their rights to food, housing and health.”

The watchdog is now calling on the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, councils and NHS boards to improve access to basic services.

‘A call to action’

The Scottish Human Rights Commission says public authorities are failing to fully realise people’s rights across the southern region.

These include access to food, housing, healthcare and education.

“Overall, the south of Scotland is a region where many communities and duty bearers are working hard to protect dignity and their human rights, often in difficult circumstances,” the report stated.

“But we have also found clear human rights failures. In many areas, rights are not improving. In several areas, they are getting worse.”

The SHRC identified three key barriers, poor transport and digital exclusion, rising costs and a reliance on short-term funding and volunteers.

It said poverty, insecure incomes and low-paid or insecure work were contributing to inequality, with some people unable to afford food, heating and housing.

The report found people are losing access to local public services, including health and social care, while some are living in hidden homelessness without a secure home of their own.

On food, more than half of people surveyed – 55% – said they were worried about being able to afford it. Almost half, 46%, said they relied on a food bank or knew someone who did.

One survey respondent said: “Food is generally far too expensive. I have to limit my spending as a low-income person… families have to spend such a big percentage of their earnings on food.”

Another local resident said: “There are some good voluntary services, but we should not have to rely on volunteers for basics like food.”

The report highlighted case studies of people within the area. Donald, a former landscape gardener, suffered a stroke and then contracted Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick.

Trying to access treatment, a locum neurologist referred him to a specialist clinic in another south of Scotland health board – but he was then denied due to where he lived.

“I saw a locum neurologist who told me about a clinic in another health board within the South of Scotland that deals with Lyme disease that could have me up and back to 90% normal within a year”, he said.

“He referred me, but I was rejected because that service doesn’t exist here, and doctors won’t refer you out of the Borders.

“I have tried talking to ministers and even taking it to the ombudsman, but still nothing has been done about it.

“We don’t have a national health service, we’ve got a regional health service. I’m just left in limbo, unable to work and unable to get better, even though I know there’s a solution out there.”

Another study highlighted the plight of a woman named Rhona, who was trying to find the right health care for her husband after he sustained multiple complex injuries while in the service of the army.

But she found navigating services for the former soldier to be “impossible”.

However, she said “navigating services was impossible” and “doctors didn’t know what to do”.

“Not having a diagnosis was torture”, she said.

“He was trapped in the health care system here, and he became suicidal. He stood on the front line to protect everybody else’s rights, and nobody would help him.”

Prof Angela O’Hagan, who chairs the commission, is calling for public bodies to formally respond to the findings and report their progress to Scottish Parliament committees.

She said: “Economic, social and cultural rights are about our everyday lives and that means access to food, housing, transport and education, and even water.

“This new report highlights the gaps between the rights we are all entitled to and the lived reality of people’s lives across the South of Scotland, as their testimonies show. It is also a call to action for public authorities who manage and deliver services and who are duty bearers with obligations to protect and deliver on human rights obligations.

“People in the South of Scotland told us they feel distant from decision making. This report is about amplifying their voices and taking the evidence direct to the Scottish Parliament.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.