The Northern Ireland Executive began consultation on a strategy and action plan for promoting sexual health.
Source: A Five Year Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | NIE press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A report on adolescent health examined nutrition, exercise and obesity; smoking, drinking and drug use; mental health; and sexual health. It outlined some of the ways in which problems in these areas could be tackled. It called on the government to invest in services that specifically targeted the health needs of adolescents.
Source: Adolescent Health, British Medical Association (020 7383 6244)
Links: Report (pdf) | BMA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Dec
A briefing highlighted common objectives and opportunities for joint work between the 'national healthy school standard' (designed to help schools become 'healthier, more effective and socially inclusive') and neighbourhood renewal. It focused on practical suggestions for partnership work and outputs, at regional, local and neighbourhood levels.
Source: National Healthy School Standard and Neighbourhood Renewal: Working together, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Briefing (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
A report on the future of public health said that there should be no individual 'right to health' enshrined in law - public health policy should take a risk-based approach; that devolution should provide the basis for any future public health reforms; that a new United Kingdom-wide Public Health Commission could provide health ministers in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with up-to-date advice and guidance based on the experience of other countries, but it should not have enforcement powers; that reform of public health legislation needed to be undertaken as a government priority, but not in a single all-encompassing Act; and that the Department of Health should increasingly focus on public health matters rather than on National Health Service management.
Source: Towards a Reformed Public Health System, Royal Society for the Promotion of Health (020 7630 0121)
Links: Report (pdf) | RSPH press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A Health Protection Agency Bill was published, which would bring together the Health Protection Agency and the National Radiological Protection Board in a single United Kingdom-wide non-departmental public body for public health issues.
Source: Health Protection Agency Bill [HL], Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | HPA press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report said that enforced health screening of asylum seekers at ports of entry could push those people most in need of healthcare 'underground'.
Source: Richard Coker, Migration, Public Health and Compulsory Screening for TB and HIV, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Links: Report (pdf) | IPPR press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Nov
A report said that a major crisis was enveloping sexual health services in England. In several areas, waiting times at sexual health clinics were in excess of 6 weeks, compared to the proposed national target of 48 hours. The government announced further funding of 15 million to improve genito-urinary medicine services by modernising premises and facilities within clinics.
Source: More Disturbing Symptoms, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330) | Press release 24 November 2003, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: THT press release (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2003-Nov
The Welsh Assembly Government announced an initiative to provide all pupils registered in primary schools in Wales, including those of primary age in special schools, with the opportunity of receiving a free healthy breakfast at school each day during the school week. The school breakfasts would be optional. Their principal focus would be those children who, for whatever reason, did not have this opportunity to have breakfast.
Source: Press release 11 November 2003, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: WAG press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report presented the findings of a national evaluation of an England-wide initiative, aimed at developing effective interventions to support and promote health among people aged 50-65 years.
Source: Helen Bowers, Jenny Secker, Marlen Llanes and Dale Webb, The Gap Years: Rediscovering mid-life as a route to healthy active-ageing, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
A report argued for improvements in the way the government handled environmental and health risks affecting the public.
Source: Sue Dibb, Winning the Risk Game: Three-point action plan for managing risks that affect consumers, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
The number of people living with HIV in the United Kingdom rose from 41,700 in 2001 to 49,500 in 2002 (up 18.7 per cent).
Source: Renewing the Focus: HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in the United Kingdom in 2002, Health Protection Agency (020 8200 6868)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report (pdf links) | HPA press release | National Aids Trust press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Nov
The most popular method of contraception among women aged under 50 in 2002-03 was the contraceptive pill (used by 25 per cent of women aged 16-49), followed by the male condom (20 per cent). The figures were similar to those seen in each year since 1997-98.
Source: Fiona Dawe and Howard Meltzer, Contraception and Sexual Health, 2002, Series OS 23, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | 2001 report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
A report examined the way foods were promoted to children, and the possible link between promotional activity and child eating patterns. It concluded that advertising to children did have an effect on their preferences, purchase behaviour and consumption, and these effects were apparent not just for different brands but also for different types of food.
Source: Gerard Hastings et al., Does Food Promotion Influence Children?: Systematic review of the evidence, Food Standards Agency (020 7276 8000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Appendices (pdf) | FSA press release | Food Commission press release |
Date: 2003-Sep
Date: 2003-Sep
The new Health Protection Agency published its corporate plan for 2003-08. It identified 12 strategic goals, including to reduce the impact of infectious disease; prepare for new and emerging diseases and threats to health; investigate childhood diseases associated with infection, chemical and radiation hazards; investigate illness associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals; improve health service preparedness for certain major emergencies; and provide the public with authoritative and impartial information and advice. (The Health Protection Agency was created on 1 April 2003 to provide an integrated approach to protecting public health and reducing the impact of infections, chemicals, poisons, and radiation hazards on human health.)
Source: Corporate Plan 2003-2008, Health Protection Agency (020 7339 1300)
Links: Plan (pdf) | HPA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Aug
The opposition Conservative Party published a consultation paper on public health policy. It accused the government of being 'afraid' to tackle the health issues of sexual or racial politics, and of failing to deal with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and obesity.
Source: Before It's Too Late: New agenda for public health, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000)
Links: Consultative document (pdf) | BMA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Aug
A report said that there was no appropriate mechanism for taking effective action on public health at the United Kingdom-wide level, and that unclear leadership on public health issues was a contributory factor in the relative decline of health standards. It argued for new legislation, and an independent commission, on public health.
Source: Stephen Monaghan, Dyfed Huws and Marie Navarro, The Case for a new UK Health of the People Act, Nuffield Trust (020 631 8450)
Links: Report (pdf) | Nuffield Trust press release (word file)
Date: 2003-Aug
A report said that less than 0.4 per cent of research published in the United Kingdom on issues such as smoking, heart disease and cancer related to prevention rather than cure. It suggested a number of solutions to enhance the capacity for intervention-oriented research, including a research framework to lead development, incentives for universities to engage in this type of work, and a national public health database to permit measurement of the impact on policy in the short term.
Source: L. Millward, M. Kelly and D. Nutbeam, Public Health Intervention Research: The evidence, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf) | HDA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Aug
A review of local delivery plans published by English Strategic Health Authorities found that services to tackle the rise in sexually transmitted infection and HIV had been neglected, because of a lack of priority given to those issues in the National Health Service.
Source: Review of Strategic Health Authority Delivery Plans, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330), Brook and fpa
Links: Summary | THT press release
Date: 2003-Aug
The government published a discussion paper identifying patterns and trends in nutrient and food intake impacting on health and disease, and key influences on diet and eating patterns.
Source: Food and Health Action Plan: Food and health problem analysis for comment, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Discussion document (pdf)
Date: 2003-Aug
The annual report of the government's chief medical officer described obesity as a 'health time bomb', and recommended a ban on smoking in public places.
Source: On the State of Public Health, Chief Medical Officer/Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Links to report removed by DH | DH press release | ASH press release
Date: 2003-Jul
Following consultation, the Welsh Assembly Government published an action plan aimed at promoting physical activity through active living; ensuring that public health, primary care and sport development professionals had the skills and knowledge to promote active living; increasing public knowledge of the health benefits of physical activity and the wide range of opportunities available; and reducing the barriers to active living.
Source: Healthy and Active Lifestyles in Wales: Framework for action, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Action plan (pdf) | Consultation responses (pdf) | WAG press release
Date: 2003-Jul
An all-party group of MPs warned that mandatory HIV tests for asylum seekers could increase the risk to public health by deterring those already here from being tested.
Source: Migration and HIV: Improving lives in Britain, All-Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS, c/o Neil Gerrard MP (020 7219 6916)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jul
The report was published of a project which explored people's understanding of the term well-being , and how the capacity to promote it could be developed by community groups and people working in health and community services.
Source: Building Community Well-Being: Exploration of themes and issues, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report | Summary | SE press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A committee of MPs said that the government's sexual health strategy (published in 2001) was 'an excellent starting point' for promoting improvements in the nation's sexual health. Campaigners and health professionals warned of a public health emergency threatened by rapidly rising levels of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Source: Sexual Health, Third Report (Session 2002-03), HC 69-I, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 11.6.03, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330) with seven other organisations
Links: Report | THT press release (pdf) | NCB press release | BMA press release | RCP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs on the Medicines Control Agency said that there had been a 'lack of dynamism' by the agency in driving improvements in the protection of public health; and that it had tended to take a narrow view of its role as a provider of information, failing to establish a public profile to help it put across safety messages.
Source: Safety, Quality, Efficacy: Regulating Medicines in the UK, Twenty-sixth Report (Session 2002-03), HC 505, House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2003-Jun
A report by the chief medical officer for Scotland focused on the health of children and women. It said that the evidence was that women in Scotland and, in particular, young women needed more incentive and support to take their own health seriously.
Source: Chief Medical Officer, Health in Scotland 2002, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report
Date: 2003-Jun
A public consultation exercise began on the issues raised by genetically modified crops. Campaigners said the exercise was poorly organised and funded. A former environment minister reportedly said that the government had downplayed the public health risks involved in GM farming.
Source: Press release 3.6.03, GM Public Debate Steering Board (020 7215 6508) | Press release 2.6.03, Consumers' Association (020 7770 7000) | The Guardian, 23.6.03
Links: GM Steering Board press release | Consumers' Association press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
A research review examined the effects of low-frequency noise on annoyance, sleep patterns, stress and other aspects of human behaviour. It found there was relatively little information readily available regarding the impact, assessment or management of the problem.
Source: Geoff Leventhall, A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (08459 556000)
Links: Report (pdf) | DEFRA press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A report said that school nurses played an increasingly active and important role in health promotion work with young people but that the service was becoming over-stretched. The report was based on research carried out with around 3,000 pupils in England, who were asked about their health needs and where they would turn for help and advice. School nursing managers and practitioners were also interviewed.
Source: Nicola Madge and Anita Franklin, Change, Challenge and School Nursing, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Summary
Date: 2003-Jun
A report (from a group opposed to large-scale immigration) warned of the potential impact on the National Health Service of the cost of treating rising numbers of patients with infectious diseases, resulting from increased asylum and immigration. But a medical report warned that serious infectious diseases could be driven underground if countries adopted a 'fortress' approach to immigration.
Source: Health Consequences of Current Immigration Policy, MigrationwatchUK (01869 337007) | Report by Kelley Lee (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), reported in The Observer, 22.6.03
Links: Report (pdf) | Observer report
Date: 2003-Jun
A Royal Commission warned of the 'unacceptable' risks posed by man-made chemicals and the urgent need for fundamental reform to protect people and the environment. It highlighted the inadequacy of the regulatory system, the lack of understanding of the potential impacts on health and the environment, and the lack of information on exactly what chemicals were found in various products.
Source: Chemicals in Products: Safeguarding the environment and human health, Cm 5827, Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | RCEP press release | Friends of the Earth press release | Greenpeace press release
Date: 2003-Jun
A conference report outlined policy developments aimed at supporting public health in local government and health services. It also considered the obstacles that would inhibit collaborative working, and provided positive examples of where these obstacles could be overcome.
Source: Prevention is Better than Cure, NHS Confederation (020 7959 7272)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Apr
Widespread support was found (among those responding to a consultation exercise) for reforms to the 'welfare food scheme', which the government says would give pregnant women, mothers and young children in low-income groups greater access to a healthy diet.
Source: Healthy Start: Results of the consultation exercise, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2003-Mar
A review of unpublished research provided new evidence on the public health role of community pharmacists.
Source: Alison Blenkinsopp, Claire Anderson and Miriam Armstrong, The Contribution of Community Pharmacy to Improving the Public s Health: Report 2 - Evidence from the UK non peer-reviewed literature 1990 2002, PharmacyHealthLink (020 7572 2265) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
Evidence that thousands of lives could be saved each year by outlawing smoking at work was reported to have been suppressed by the government, over fears that a ban would prove too expensive for bars, clubs and hotels. (The evidence was contained in a leaked report by the Health and Safety Commission.)
Source: The Independent, 19.3.03
Links: Independent article | ASH press release
Date: 2003-Mar
The New Opportunities Fund announced 50 healthy eating schemes, totaling 7.4 million. The 'Five-a-Day' community initiatives are designed to make it easier for families on low incomes to access fruit and vegetables.
Source: Press release 18.2.03, New Opportunities Fund (0845 039 0204)
Links: Press release
Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK JSP Journal of Social Policy J. Soc. Pol. 0047-2794 1740-2948 -2 10 00685 S1740294803006487Race and ethnicityRace disadvantage in education and training 1 1 2003 Cambridge University Press A Digest Item of the Social Policy Digest JSPThe Social Policy Digest is of interest to readers of the Journal of Social Policy and it...
Fall in black pupils achieving good grades
The proportion of black teenagers in England and Wales achieving five good GCSE passes fell by 8 per cent between 2000 and 2002. (GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education)
Source: Youth Cohort Study: Activities and Experiences of 16 Year Olds: England and Wales 2002, Statistical First Release 04/2003, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR 04 (pdf) | Independent article
Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK JSP Journal of Social Policy J. Soc. Pol. 0047-2794 1740-2948 -2 10 00685 S1740294803006499EducationSchool curriculum and pupil assessment 1 1 2003 Cambridge University Press A Digest Item of the Social Policy Digest JSPThe Social Policy Digest is of interest to readers of the Journal of Social Policy and it...
Fall in black pupils achieving good grades
The proportion of black teenagers in England and Wales achieving five good GCSE passes fell by 8 per cent between 2000 and 2002. (GCSE = General Certificate of Secondary Education)
Source: Youth Cohort Study: Activities and Experiences of 16 Year Olds: England and Wales 2002, Statistical First Release 04/2003, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: SFR 04 (pdf) | Independent article
Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK JSP Journal of Social Policy J. Soc. Pol. 0047-2794 1740-2948 -2 10 00685 S1740294803007912Voluntary activity and civil societyBusiness and social responsibility 1 1 2003 Cambridge University Press A Digest Item of the Social Policy Digest JSPThe Social Policy Digest is of interest to readers of the Journal of Social Policy and it...
Social responsibilities of pension funds
A survey of member-nominated trustees of pension funds found that fewer than 1 in 10 believed that companies were providing enough social and environmental information for investment decisions to be analysed: but they believed that social and environmental issues would have a substantial impact on the financial performance of companies over the following five to ten years.
Source: Chris Gribben and Leon Olsen, Will UK Pension Funds become more Responsible?: Survey of member nominated trustees, Just Pensions/UK Social Investment Forum (020 7405 0040)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Press release
Cambridge University Press Cambridge, UK JSP Journal of Social Policy J. Soc. Pol. 0047-2794 1740-2948 -2 10 00685 S1740294803007985Voluntary activity and civil societyGrant-giving bodies 1 1 2003 Cambridge University Press A Digest Item of the Social Policy Digest JSPThe Social Policy Digest is of interest to readers of the Journal of Social Policy and it...
NOF and Community Fund to merge
Following consultation, the government announced that two National Lottery distributors the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund are to be merged. This means that more than half the money raised for good causes will be distributed by a single body, with a remit to 'improve the quality of life in communities, and promote social inclusion'. Voluntary organisations expressed concern that the merger would reduce the proportion of money distributed to them.
Source: Press release 25.2.03, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200) | Press release 25.2.03, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (0800 279 8798)
Links: DCMS press release | Consultation Document (2002) (pdf) | Consultation results (pdf) | NCVO press release | NOF press release
Date: 2003-Feb
A report made a series of recommendations for supporting healthy eating among pregnant teenagers. It said they should be entitled to welfare benefits as soon as they confirmed their pregnancy, rather than having to wait until they were 29 weeks pregnant; that all pregnant women should be entitled to the same rates of benefit as the rates set for women over the age of 25; and that all pregnant under 18 years old should be entitled to welfare foods irrespective of welfare benefit entitlement, as soon as they confirmed their pregnancy.
Source: Helen Burchett and Annie Seeley, Good Enough to Eat?: The diet of pregnant teenagers, Maternity Alliance (020 7490 7639) and Food Commission
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
The Scottish Executive launched a scheme under which local authorities will be given more money to provide meals for primary school children, in return for a limit on the amount of fattening food served. By 2004 all primary schools will have to follow 'nutrient standard' guidelines. The launch coincided with publication of the final report of an expert group on school meals.
Source: Press release 19.2.03, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400) | Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Press release | Report (pdf) | Report
Date: 2003-Feb
A survey found that logos on food labels were more likely to confuse and mislead consumers than inform them.
Source: Bamboozled, Baffled and Bombarded: Consumers' views on voluntary food labelling, National Consumer Council (020 7730 3469)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
An official survey found that nearly three quarters of the women (72 per cent) but less than half of the men (43 per cent) interviewed knew that five or more portions of fruit and vegetables are recommended daily. (The survey was part of the Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey for the Department of Health.)
Source: Press release 20.1.03, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: Press release (pdf) | Tables (Excel file)
Date: 2003-Jan
Premier League football clubs and national football organisations are allowing their school-linked health promotion activities to be compromised by sponsorship deals with fast-food, confectionery and soft-drinks companies, according to a survey.
Source: 'Football sells out to junk food brands', Food Magazine 27.1.03, Food Commission (020 7837 2250)
Links: Article | Press release
Date: 2003-Jan
The government launched a new programme ('Skilled for Health') designed to help people improve their basic skills and to link learning to health - for example, some seven million people who have difficulty reading the label on a medicine bottle. The programme will be run jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills
Source: Press release 24.1.03, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2003-Jan
