Action Update

FPH welcomes WHO report on Social Determinants of Health

29 August 2008

The long-awaited final report from Sir Michael Marmot's WHO-sponsored Commission on Social Determinants of Health has just been published.

Pointing out the huge differences in life chances between, say, Sweden and sub-Saharan Africa, the report hammers home the injustices of health inequity and calls for governments, civil society, health professionals, business, and a range of other organisations to join a global movement to improve the lives of the world's citizens.

FPH welcomes the report and supports its conclusion that: “Achieving health equity within a generation is achievable, it is the right thing to do, and now is the right time to do it.”

FPH responds to Darzi's review

10 July 2008

FPH has responded to Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review final report. In it we highlight the unique and vital contribution that public health specialists will make to ensure effective implementation of the report's recommendations.

Read the FPH's official response to the Next Stage Review final report [pdf]

or

Read the FPH President's letter to the HSJ: Darzi bowls us a googly [external site]

Your chance to 'green-up' the NHS

1 July 2008

FPH has welcomed the publication of a new strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of the NHS in England.

Saving Carbon, Improving Health: A Carbon Reduction Strategy for the NHS in England was launched by the Sustainable Development Unit and adds to the growing tide of opinion that the NHS - and the wider health community - must take the lead in the climate change and sustainable development agendas.

FPH will be responding to the consultation and wants to hear your views. To contribute to the consultation, please email us your comments by 22 July 2008.

However, it really is important that we all respond to this consultation - numbers count! - so please try to submit your views in any way you can.

Note: FPH has published a practical guide to tackling climate change within the NHS - Sustaining a Healthy Future - which could help with your response.

Health profiles - useful planning tools

24 June 2008

The Faculty of Public Health welcomes the publication today of the National Health Profiles for 2008, in particular new information on children's health.

"Good information is vital for local decision makers" says Faculty of Public Health President, Prof Alan Maryon-Davis. "The Health Profiles provide a handy temperature check for the nation's health."

Time to act on climate change

22 January 2008

As the UK's leading specialist public health organisation, The Faculty of Public Health has written to health leaders across the UK regarding the important role the health and healthcare community has in leading the climate change agenda.

The FPH's new report Sustaining a Healthy Future – Taking Action on Climate Change shows how an organisation such as the NHS is ideally placed to use its immense spending power to make sustainable choices in its energy, building and transport policies, as well as provide a powerful example to others on reducing carbon emissions and promoting a healthy, sustainable future.

The guide sets out what action can be taken by individuals and the organisations they work for – including quick wins and longer term goals – as well as the stark consequences if nothing is done.

Sustaining a Healthy Future was produced in consultation with the Carbon Trust and is endorsed by 19 organisations, including the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), the Sustainable Development Commission, the NHS Confederation, the Local Government Association, Royal Colleges and Sustrans.

The FPH has written to all UK primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and acute trusts asking them to prioritise action on climate change, particularly as this will also have a positive impact on other major public health challenges such as obesity and inequalities.

The letter has been co-signed by 18 other organisation, demonstrating the vital role the health and healthcare community, and the NHS in particular, has in this important agenda.

Drug trial sponsors must take more responsibility
11 December 2007

Sponsors of commercially-funded research into new treatments must take more responsibility for the wellbeing of the subjects of their studies.

In particular they should ensure that subjects are made fully aware - before they consent to take part - of what will happen regarding funding of the treatment once the trial period is over.

This is according to a new statement [pdf] issued by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH).

The statement has been sent to the chief medical officers, directors of public health, key figures in the Department of Health, the research ethics committees and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry amongst others.

Smoking reduction as a 'stretch target'
December 2007

The FPH is one of four leading public health organisations urging local planners to target smoking as a way of tackling health inequalities.

Smoking prevalence is a key indicator not just for smoking-related diseases but also for health inequalities, since it is responsible for over half the difference in mortality rates across the social classes.

The FPH, Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Trading Standards Institute are writing to lead members in local authorities and primary care trusts urging them to include a reduction in smoking at local level as a 'stretch target' within their Local Area Agreement a in order to reduce health inequalities.

For further information, see:

Common Agricultural Policy – A CAP on Health?
June 2007

The Faculty is officially taking it's campaign for a healthy Common Agricultural Policy through the front door of the European Commission.

In March the Faculty launched A CAP on Health? The impact of the EU Common Agricultural Policy on public health, the report which marked the start of a Faculty campaign to put public health at the heart of decision-making on the forthcoming review of CAP in 2008. We all know that our diet plays a critical role in health. But many of us don't realise that our choice of food and drink is heavily influenced by agricultural policy.

A copy of the report was sent to all MEPs and international chairs and vice-chairs on relevant EU committees, and is being used to great effect to influence and lobby for health-promoting reforms. John Bowis, MEP and member of the EU's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Commission has agreed to put a question before the European Commission, on behalf of the Faculty, on the health impact of CAP.

We'll keep you up-to-date on progress. In the meantime, for a copy of the report visit: www.fph.org.uk/resources/AtoZ/