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Responding to Tuesday’s update from the Government on the timetable and process for the restructuring of public health, leading health organisations and alliances have set out six tests they believe government proposals must pass to deliver truly world-class outcomes in levelling-up health and securing a population resilient to future health risks. Their open letter to the Government sets out six texts for public health beyond health protection, the future of which remains unclear.
These tests are endorsed by a wide range of leading health organisations, including The Health Foundation, the Faculty of Public Health, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Smokefree Action Coalition, Cancer Research UK, and the Richmond Group of health and care charities.
The publication of these six tests follows a joint statement endorsed by over 120 organisations across the health sector which sets out the principles a new public health system must be based on, to ensure delivery of the Government’s interlocking pledges to ‘level up’ society; significantly increase disability-free life years, while reducing inequalities; to improve mental health; reduce obesity and alcohol harm, and to end smoking.
Dr Jennifer Dixon Chief Executive of The Health Foundation, said: “Our analysis shows that an extra £0.9 billion a year is required to reverse real term per capita cuts to the public health grant since 2015/16, and at least an extra £2bn a year would be needed for adequate investment in the most deprived areas. And that was before the pandemic struck. The Government’s prevention strategy set out a target to deliver at least an extra five years of healthy life for the population by 2035 and to close the health gap between the richest and poorest. So, any additional spending on health protection to fight COVID-19 must not be at the expense of cuts in funding to tackle the many preventable causes of poor health.”
Dr Nick Hopkinson, a respiratory specialist at Imperial College London and chair of Action on Smoking and Health, speaking on behalf of the Smokefree Action Coalition said: “Smoking rates have fallen by 60% since the start of the century because of a robust national strategy, backed up by strong regional delivery and effective, evidence-based local action. This is the model the Government must implement for all aspects of health improvement if we are to successfully address the risk factors for poor mental and physical health and reduce inequalities.”
Source: Psychreg, 17 September 2020
See also: Second Joint Statement to the Government on Public Health Reorganisation
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Charities face uncertainty about partnerships with Public Health England (PHE) potentially worth hundreds of millions of pounds after the government cut the organisation.
PHE, which is tasked with making the public healthier and reducing differences between the health of different groups by reducing the risk factors for poor health, reports to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Last month, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced that PHE would be cut and merged into a new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) alongside NHS Test and Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre.
Third Sector asked DHSC what would become of the work charities did with PHE in areas such as young people’s mental health, tackling obesity, and smoking and alcohol misuse. The health department declined to answer the query directly. DHSC highlighted its commitment to working closely with individuals and stakeholders on the design of the NIHP, and to follow best practice in informing, engaging, and consulting with individuals on opportunities in the new organisation. The DHSC said the move to the NIHP was about growing the UK’s national public health capability, not reducing it.
Charlotte Augst, chief executive of National Voices, said: “As a sector, we are concerned with how people’s health and lives interface. We are very interested in the parts of PHE’s portfolio that now face an uncertain future: inequality, obesity, public mental health, community, and place. It is essential that this valuable leadership continues one way or another, including the many partnerships PHE has formed with voluntary and community organisations over the years.”
Source: Third Sector, 17 September 2020
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The future of Public Health England’s (PHE) non-pandemic functions still hang in the balance with a consultation due on where the work will sit. While much of the focus will be orientated around the prevention of physical health problems, PHE’s mental health functions are also vital.
Last week Mental Health First Aid England (MHFAE) suggested mental health should fall under the primary functions of the new body, the National Institute for Health Protection, “with a clear plan and measurable outcomes focused on the psycho-social and mental health impacts of the coronavirus.” However, HSJ sources highlighted that the one common feeling is that public mental health should not go to the NHS.
Current opinion notes that the NHS has never been good at prevention of illness, so having a body responsible specifically for this aspect of mental health is necessary. Local authorities also have better connections within their communities than their NHS counterparts, which would be vital to any effective community wellbeing programme. HSJ suggests that in an ideal world, PHE’s mental health functions would remain in local authorities, but with a protected budget.
PHE published a detailed report last week on public mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic, and according to the data, levels mental health distress was around 8.1 % higher during April 2020 compared to the previous three years. The president of the Royal College Emergency Medicine, Katherine Henderson, has also warned of “significant unmet need in acute psychiatry services”, noting that40% of emergency department cubicles in one trust being used for patients with psychiatric care needs.
Source: HSJ, 15 September 2020
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Illegal cigarettes and tobacco have been seized from 25 shops and home across Salford. Police officers, with the help of detective dogs, seized a total of 4,567 packets containing 91,340 cigarettes and 256 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco, all of which were counterfeit or non-duty paid. They had an estimated street value of £45,967. Officers also seized £4,967 in cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Councillor David Lancaster said: “There are no bargains to be had when it comes to illegal tobacco, this trade is linked to organised crime gangs who also deal in human trafficking, loan sharking and the drugs trade. Illegal tobacco… are often targeted at young people getting them hooked on smoking and damaging their health.”
Source: Manchester Evening News, 17 September 2020
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Russia is considering raising taxes affecting some mining companies, tobacco sales and the oil industry, officials said on Wednesday 15 September 2020, in Moscow’s latest attempt to plug holes in its budget.
The move, estimated to bring in around 340 billion roubles ($4.54 billion) a year, comes as Russia faces a prolonged budget deficit amid weak oil prices and after Moscow stepped up its support for Belarus which includes a $1.5 billion loan.
Russia is considering increasing the excise tax on cigarettes by 20% next year. Plans were discussed by the Finance Minister Anton Siluanov on Wednesday.
Source: Reuters, 16 September 2020
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Leading health organisations and alliances have endorsed a joint statement to the Government’s published timetable for the restructuring of public health announced on 15th September. They set out six tests they believe Government proposals must pass to deliver truly world-class outcomes in levelling-up health and securing a population resilient to future health risks.
The publication of these six tests follows the first joint statement endorsed by over 120 organisations across the health sector which sets out the principles a new public health system must be based on, to ensure delivery of the Government’s interlocking pledges to ‘level up’ society; significantly increase disability-free life years, while reducing inequalities; to improve mental health; reduce obesity and alcohol harm, and to end smoking.
Second Joint statements to the Government on public health reorganisation
See also: Joint statement to the Government on Public Health Reorganisation
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On Tuesday the 15th of September 2020, the Government published an update on its plans for restructuring public health including the creation of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP).
The document sets out the timetable for the creation of NIHP and engagement with stakeholders on the future of Public Health England’s health improvement and wider functions, alongside setting out the Government’s commitments to protect the public’s health including strengthening health protection systems ahead of winter.
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