Month: September 2013

The evolution of policy and actions to tackle obesity in England

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 27, 2013

Jebb, SA. et al. Obesity Reviews, 2013; doi: 10.1111/obr.12093

Tackling obesity has been a policy priority in England for more than 20 years. Two formal government strategies on obesity in 2008 and 2011 drew together a range of actions and developed new initiatives to fill perceived gaps. Today a wide range of policies are in place. Data from annual surveys shows the rate of increase in obesity has attenuated in recent years, but has not yet been reversed. This paper considers the actions taken and what is known about the impact of individual policies and the overarching strategy to tackle obesity in England.

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Children Healthy Child including NCMP & CDO Well-Being Young People

Predicting wellbeing

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 27, 2013

By NatCen Social Research (2013)

This report identifies what factors predict high levels of wellbeing among various groups including children and young people. This study’s focus on the predictors of positive wellbeing is designed to inform policy across the Department of Health, Public Health England, and beyond. It is being published alongside the launch of a major new Change4Life campaign, which draws on this study’s findings.

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General Practice Healthy Settings Public Health Advice to NHS Commissioners

Securing the future of general practice: new models of primary care

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 27, 2013

By Nuffield Trust (2013)

This report from the Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund examines the new GP organisations forming to allow care provision at greater scale.

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Care of the Elderly Commissioning Primary Care Commissioning Public Health Advice to NHS Commissioners

Giving older people a voice: the case for an older people's commissioner for England

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 25, 2013

By Centre Forum (2013)

This report calls for the introduction of an Older People’s Commissioner for England in order to act as a strong advocate for older people, fighting their corner in policymaking circles, challenging discrimination, championing their contribution to society and the economy, and spearheading the future proofing of English policy development across government to prepare for the challenges posed by an ageing society.

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Commissioning Guidance Local Government Public Health Advice to NHS Commissioners

Delivering effective local healthwatch: key success features

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 25, 2013

By Local Government Association (2013)

This document is a refresh of Developing effective local Healthwatch. It is hoped that this document will help councils to better understand the commissioning of local Healthwatch and review how well their local Healthwatch delivers its roles and responsibilities. It can also help local Healthwatch develop their understanding of what is expected of them and how they can deliver best practice.

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Good Practice Healthy Settings Information Library Licensing Planning

Information: to share or not to share: Government response to the Caldicott Review

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 25, 2013

By Department of Health (September 2013)

The government accepts all the recommendations of the Caldicott report and highlights that while information sharing is essential to provide good care for everyone, there are rules that must be followed.

The ambitions of this response are that:

everyone will feel confident that information about their health and care is secure, protected and shared appropriately when that is in their interest
people will be better informed about how their information is used and shared while they are receiving care, including how it could be used in anonymised form for research, for public health and to create better services
if people don’t want their information to be shared in this way, they will know how to object if they want to
people will be increasingly able to access their own health and care records

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Alcohol Children Community Crime Illegal Drugs Substance Misuse Substance Use Tobacco & Drugs

No quick fix: exposing the depth of Britain's drug and alcohol problem

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 25, 2013

By The Centre for Social Justice (2013)

This report lays bare the reality of substance abuse and addiction in Britain today. This ongoing challenge affects millions of people and has huge costs. Alcohol abuse costs taxpayers £21 billion a year and drugs £15 billion. While costs matter, it is the human consequences that present the real tragedy. The abuse of substances is a pathway to poverty and can lead to family breakdown and child neglect, homelessness, crime, debt, and long-term worklessness. From its impact on children to its consequences for those in later life, addiction destroys lives, wrecks families and blights communities.

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Health Inequality Health Protection (Emergency planning Healthy Settings Public Health Advice to NHS Commissioners seasonal mortality)

Reducing health inequalities: the challenge of public health

Post author By Sarah Woodhall
Post date September 25, 2013

By The British Council (2013)

This think piece suggests that a solution to tackling inequalities in public health lies with creating co-produced services which utilise the assets within people. It draws from findings of the People Powered Health project, as well as horizon scans from around the world to explore the capacity within people and communities to help themselves and each other.

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