Press Release

Monday 2 June 2008

Cardiff conference to address key public health challenges

 

Experts meet in Wales to debate issues facing the nation's health

Public health professionals from across the UK gather in Cardiff this week at the Faculty of Public Health's 2008 conference.

Taking the theme of Challenging problems, sharing solutions the conference comes at a time when public health issues have never been higher on the agenda, whether it's the ever worsening crises of alcohol misuse and obesity - and the huge strain they are putting on our health service - or the unprecedented public health threats posed by our changing climate.

Challenging problems, sharing solutions is being held in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and high profile speakers will include

  • First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan,
  • Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission Jonathon Porritt,
  • Chair of the Food Standards Agency Deirdre Hutton,
  • Chief Medical Officer for Wales Tony Jewell,
  • Chair of the South West Strategic Health Authority Sir Michael Pitt and
  • Shadow Secretaries of State for Health Andrew Lansley and Norman Lamb.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "As the NHS celebrates its 60 th anniversary, this conference is being held in the country of its birth and nothing could be more appropriate. Tredegar's Nye Bevan would be proud of how the health service he created has grown to be the envy of the world, although never without its problems of how to provide equity of treatment, access to treatment and excellence in treatment.

"It is a wondrous coincidence that it is here at a time when Cardiff University has created the Archie Cochrane Chair in Public Health, thanks to a £2.5 million endowment by Irish philanthropist and financier Gerard Walsh.

"It honours one of the world's greatest epidemiologists and a major figure in world medicine in Archie Cochrane. The Scottish-born professor's pioneering work in Wales , especially with miners at risk of pneumoconiosis, enabled him to establish the principle of the randomised trial, which provides the proper foundation for evaluating all modern medical innovations to see if they really do benefit patients.

"The NHS has adapted to ever-changing demands over the last 60 years, and continues to do so. We are proud of our NHS, and the Assembly Government is determined that we should continue to develop the service to meet the challenges of the 21 st Century."

"The conference is a good opportunity to set out some of the excellent work being done in Wales, as well as a very important way of sharing information across the UK and internationally," said Chief Medical Officer for Wales Tony Jewell. "There's a good degree of international collaboration work on global capacity building, which is very timely in the context of the Chinese earthquake, Myanmar and the continuing problems in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as looking at shared solutions on climate change and sustainability. There is a range of excellent speakers and we're very pleased to be hosting it in Cardiff."

"There's a special buzz about this year's conference," said Faculty of Public Health President Alan Maryon Davis."Public health is right at the top of the agenda across the nation – from alcohol to obesity, from climate change to cancer prevention, and from mental heath to MRSA. We'll have plenty to talk about, listen to and learn from and, as we approach the 60th anniversary of the NHS, it's fitting to be holding our conference in the homeland of Aneurin Bevan. Over the years Wales has been at the forefront of many aspects of public health, and is still very much at the cutting edge. It's great to be gathering here in Cardiff."

Dr Cerilan Rogers, Director of the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: "Wales is a really exciting place to be if you are a public health professional. The integrated system we have here is almost unique in the world. Specialists in protecting people from infectious diseases and environmental hazards work in the same organisation as microbiologists, information analysts and specialists in health improvement and health and social care quality. By making all the connections we can maximise our effectiveness. I am looking forward to demonstrating this to colleagues from the rest of the UK."

ENDS

Notes to editors

  1. For further information or to set up an interview with Tony Jewell or Alan Maryon Davis contact Anna Humphries on 07791 008276
  2. The UK Faculty of Public Health annual conference attracts over 400 public health professionals from across the UK and internationally. This year it is being held in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and will be an opportunity to look at public health practice in Wales, the rest of the UK and internationally.
  3. For more information on the programme please visit our conference website
  4. The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the leading professional body for public health specialists in the UK. It aims to promote and protect the health of the population, and improve health services, by maintaining professional and educational standards, advocating on key public health issues, and providing practical information and guidance for public health professionals.
  5. The Welsh Assembly Government places a strong emphasis on public health. One Wales, the agenda for the government of Wales, commits the Assembly Government to investing £190million in public health and health improvement. A Public Health Strategic Framework is being developed, which will complement the work already under way through Health Challenge Wales, the national focus to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales. Recent policy developments to improve public health include free prescriptions, the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public places, free swimming for children, young people and older people and healthy school breakfasts.
  6. The National Public Health Service for Wales provides the resources, information and advice to enable the Welsh Assembly Government, Health Commission Wales, Local Health Boards, Local Authorities and NHS Trusts to discharge their statutory public health functions. To do this, the NPHS delivers a full range of public health services, seeking to:
    • Improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales and reduce inequalities in health;
    • Protect against existing, new and emerging diseases and health threats; and
    • Contribute to improvement in health and social care services.
  7. Public health is about improving and protecting the health of groups of people, rather than about treating individual patients. Public health professionals must look at the bigger picture and then take action to promote health lifestyles, prevent disease, protect and improve general health, and improve healthcare services. The ‘population' they are working for could be a rural community, an entire city, or the global population, but the principles remain the same.


 

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