The Glasgow Centre for Population Health was set up in April 2004 in response to Glasgow’s poor health record.  Recent evidence shows that although Glasgow’s health is improving overall, it has not been improving as quickly as in the rest of Scotland.  This means that, without more effective action, Glasgow’s population will continue to experience higher levels of ill-health than elsewhere in the country.  In addition, the gap in life expectancy between the least and most deprived areas of Glasgow has increased over the past decade, emphasising the need to focus on improving health in our least affluent communities

Building on the existing expertise, experience and strengths of its partner organisations, and fostering new collaborations both within Scotland and beyond, the Centre provides a focus on those issues which drive the patterns of ill-health that characterise Glasgow and the West of Scotland. 

Key questions are being explored, such as:

• Is there a 'Glasgow effect', leading to faster ageing and excess premature mortality over and above that explained by conventional risk factors?
• How will current trends in health determinants (such as employment and housing) and city strategies to influence these affect the health of Glasgow?
• What new approaches, suited to the context of 21st century Scotland, might enhance the effectiveness of our health improvement efforts?
• What is the likely impact on health inequalities of current public health approaches in Glasgow?

Through new programmes of research, discussion and development, and through consciously bridging the gaps between research and practice, and between professional and public realms, the Glasgow Centre for Population Health aims to contribute new evidence and insights to help remove the 'sick city of Europe' label from Glasgow.