A report said that both local authority professionals and school staff members perceived that the national free fruit in schools initiative had been very successful.
Source: Andy MacGregor and Christine Sheehey, Evaluation of Free Fruit in Schools Initiative, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Date: 2005-Dec
A briefing paper examined all relevant systematic reviews, syntheses, meta-analyses and review-level papers on public health interventions relating to housing. It then highlighted housing-related interventions that promoted health for all population groups, but with particular reference to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.
Source: Nichole Taske, Lorraine Taylor, Caroline Mulvihill and Nick Doyle, Housing and Public Health: A review of reviews of interventions for improving health - Evidence briefing, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (0870 121 4194)
Links: Briefing Note
Date: 2005-Dec
An article discussed the concept of leadership in relation to the government's approach to modernizing the National Health Service in England. Focusing on public health in primary care, it examined developments in the public health workforce, in particular attempts to differentiate between public health specialists and practitioners by different levels of leadership function.
Source: Erica Wirrmann and Cindy Carlson, 'Public health leadership in primary care practice in England: everybody's business?', Critical Public Health, Volume 15 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Nov
Results from the 2003 Scottish Health Survey were published. Between 1998 and 2003 smoking prevalence among both men and women (aged 16-64) fell, and physical activity levels increased.
Source: Catherine Bromley, Kerry Sproston and Nicola Shelton (eds.), Scottish Health Survey 2003, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
Nearly 90 per cent of responses to a consultation document welcomed proposals for legislation on smoke-free public places and workplaces.
Source: Consultation on the Smokefree Elements of the Health Bill, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation responses | DH press release | ASH press release
Date: 2005-Nov
An article described the patterns of research activity in child and family health and well-being in 2002-03, in relation to government policies. A limited amount of research activity was addressing government policy priorities: this suggested the need to commission further research to fill gaps in the evidence.
Source: Summer Hawkins and Catherine Law, 'Patterns of research activity related to government policy: a UK web based survey', Archives of Disease in Childhood, Volume 90 Number 11
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Nov
The Health Bill, banning smoking in most enclosed public places, was given a second reading.
Source: Health Bill, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 29 November 2005, columns 144-238, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC Library research paper 1 | HOC Library research paper 2 | BHF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A report recommended redesigning school menus to reflect new minimum standards for food in schools, and to ensure pupils got essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Source: School Meals Review Panel, Turning the Tables: Transforming school food, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | DfES press release | BHF press release | CPAG press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
The Northern Ireland Executive announced that it would introduce legislation to control smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces, with effect from April 2007.
Source: Press release 17 October 2005, Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: NIE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
The Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV published its annual report for 2004-05. It called for better performance management of contraception services.
Source: Annual Report 2004-2005, Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV (020 7972 3716)
Links: Report (pdf) | FPA press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A report said that the Children's Food Bill (a private member's Bill designed to restrict the promotion of junk food to children) was needed to improve children's current and future health, in view of the weakness and ineffectiveness of voluntary approaches over many years.
Source: Children s Food Bill: Why we need a new law, not more voluntary approaches, Sustain (020 7837 1228)
Links: Report (pdf) | Sustain press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A Health Bill was published, providing the Welsh Assembly Government with the powers necessary to ban smoking in public places in Wales.
Source: Health Bill, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | WAG press release
Date: 2005-Oct
The government published a Health Bill, which would ban smoking in all enclosed public places (apart from licensed premises that did not serve or prepare food, and private members' clubs) from the summer of 2007. Campaigners said that the exemptions would be disastrous for health equalities and undermine attempts to curb binge drinking. Environmental health officers called the plans "contradictory, complex and unenforceable".
Source: Health Bill, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 27 October 2005, Action on Smoking and Health (020 7739 5902)
Links: Text of Bill | Explanatory notes | DH press release | ASH press release | BHF press release | BMA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Oct
The government published a strategy for improving the health and well-being of working-age people, including reducing work-related ill-health and injuries.
Source: Health, Work and Well-being Caring for our Future: A strategy for the health and well-being of working age people, Department of Health (08701 555455), Department for Work and Pensions, and Health and Safety Executive
Links: Strategy (pdf) | DWP press release
Date: 2005-Oct
An evaluation of the School Fruit and Vegetable pilot found that children ate significantly more fruit while participating in the scheme.
Source: Sandie Schagen et al., Evaluation of the School Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Scheme: Final report, Big Lottery Fund (020 7211 1800)
Links: Report (pdf) | NFER press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A survey found that secondary schools in school sport partnerships had met their government target a year early for pupils taking part in two hours of physical exercise and school sport each week.
Source: TNS, Results of the 2004/05 School Sport Survey, Department for Education and Skills (web publication only)
Links: Report (Word file) | DfES press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The government announced that it would ban 'junk food' from school canteens and vending machines in England by September 2006.
Source: Press release 28 September 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | RCN press release
Date: 2005-Sep
A new book examined the principles of social research as applied to public health.
Source: Judith Green and John Browne, Principles of Social Research, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Aug
A new book looked at the foundation of public health, its historical evolution, and the themes underpinning it.
Source: Joceline Pomerleau and Martin McKee, Issues in Public Health, Open University Press (01280 823388)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Aug
A report said that the National Health Service in England could save almost 1 billion over 15 years, by investing in contraceptive services and speeding up women s access to abortion services.
Source: Nigel Armstrong and Cam Donaldson, The Economics of Sexual Health, Family Planning Association (020 7923 5202)
Links: Summary | FPA press release
Date: 2005-Aug
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on food information.
Source: Food Information: Government Response to the Committee's Report, First Special Report (Session 2005-06), HC 437, House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2005-Jul
The Scottish Parliament approved a Bill which provided for free eye and dental checks for all, a wider range of pharmacy services, and better access to dental services. The Bill also introduced smoke-free public places from 26 March 2006.
Source: The Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Explanatory notes (pdf) | Policy memorandum (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Jul
A report defined the roles, functions, and development needs of staff whose everyday work focused on helping people make and maintain informed health choices, and empowering and mobilizing communities and organizations for health.
Source: Shaping the Future of Public Health: Promoting health in the NHS, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jul
A survey report examined the state of people?s health in Wales, their lifestyles, and how they used the health service.
Source: Welsh Health Survey 2003/04, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf links) | WAG press release
Date: 2005-Jul
The Chief Medical Officer?s Annual Report for 2004 was published.
Source: On the State of the Public Health: Annual report of the Chief Medical Officer 2004, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report (pdf links) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jul
The Welsh Assembly government began consultation on a national plan to improve the health of children and young people by providing healthier food and more physical activity.
Source: Health Challenge Wales: Action on food and fitness for children and young people, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 6105)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | WAG press release
Date: 2005-Jul
The government published a consultation paper on proposals to curb smoking, including the option of a full ban in all enclosed public places and workplaces.
Source: Consultation on the Smokefree Elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | CIEH press release | ASH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
An article said that recent reorganization within the National Health Service had exacerbated existing anxieties about the capacity of the public health workforce.
Source: Stephen Abbott et al., 'Flattening the National Health Service hierarchy: the case of public health', Policy Studies, Volume 26 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jun
The Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a Bill that would make Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to become completely smoke free in all enclosed public places. The new law would come into force in March 2006.
Source: Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | SE press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined recent government-sponsored research on drug prevention among vulnerable groups of young people, and considered how this related to government policy and guidance.
Source: Kimberley Edmonds, Harry Sumnall, Jim McVeigh and Mark Bellis, Drug Prevention Among Vulnerable Young People, Centre for Public Health/Liverpool John Moores University (0151 231 4510)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A private member's Bill was introduced to improve children?s current and future health, and prevent diseases and conditions (such as childhood obesity) linked to unhealthy diets.
Source: Mary Creagh MP, Children's Food Bill, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | RSPH press release | SUSTAIN briefing (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jun
A report on childhood obesity said that school meals should adhere to strict guidelines on sugar and fat content, all unhealthy food and drinks vending machines in schools should be banned, and there should be no junk food advertising or sponsorship.
Source: Preventing Childhood Obesity, British Medical Association (020 7387 4499)
Links: Report (pdf) | BMA press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A new book provided background information on twelve major public health topics: cancer, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, smoking, obesity, physical activity, injury prevention, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, alcohol, drugs and mental health.
Source: Linda Ewles (ed.), Key Topics in Public Health, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone (01865 474010)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Jun
A report said that the National Health Service had a key role to play in cutting local crime rates and boosting community social networks.
Source: Healthy Sustainable Neighbourhoods, NHS Confederation (020 7959 7272)
Links: NHS Confederation press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report presented the findings of an evaluation of how 12 pathfinder local authorities had begun engaging with new requirements to promote healthier communities and narrow health inequalities.
Source: Sharon Doherty, Ute Kowarzik and Linda Ratinckx, The Healthier Communities Shared Priority Project: Learning from the pathfinder communities, Health Development Agency (020 7430 0850)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The government announced plans (in the Queen's speech) for a Health Improvement and Protection Bill. The Bill would create new laws to improve hospital hygiene standards. It would also introduce a smoking ban in some areas.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 17 May 2005, columns 29-31, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | ASH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
A report examined ways of improving public health, and reducing health inequalities, in Scotland.
Source: Fiona Crawford, Doing It Differently: An asset-based approach to well-being, Scottish Council Foundation (0131 225 4709)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-May
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence began consultation on the social value judgements that affected the development of its guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill-health.
Source: Social Value Judgements: Draft for consultation, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (020 7766 9191)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | Summary
Date: 2005-May
An article discussed the use of race/ethnicity in population profiling for public health risk. It argued that race/ethnicity should continue to be used in population profiling, but that its use could be refined and reframed.
Source: George Ellison, ''Population profiling and public health risk: When and how should we use race/ethnicity?', Critical Public Health, Volume 15 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-May
A report by a committee of the Welsh Assembly called for a ban on smoking in public places and workplaces.
Source: Committee on Smoking in Public Places: Report, National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: Report (pdf) | WCH press release
Date: 2005-May
A report by a committee of the Scottish Parliament said that a ban on smoking in enclosed public places would impact positively on public health, and that a voluntary approach to tobacco control would not ensure the same outcome.
Source: Stage 1 Report on Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill, 6th Report 2005, SP Paper 322, Scottish Parliament Health Committee, available from Blackwell's Bookshop (0131 622 8283)
Links: Report | Evidence | SE press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The government published a delivery plan setting out how the commitments made in its public health White Paper would be translated into practical benefits for local communities. But a think tank said that the government s failure to ban smoking in all enclosed public places, its plans to extend alcohol licensing hours, and its hesitancy to ban junk food advertising to children detracted from the plan.
Source: Delivering Choosing Health: Making healthier choices easier, Department of Health (08701 555455) | Press release 9 March 2005, King s Fund (020 7307 2400)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release | King's Fund press release | ASH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
The government announced (following a campaign by a 'television chef') an extra 220 million to improve the quality of ingredients and cooking in primary and secondary schools in England over three years. Schools would have to spend at least 50 pence per child per meal on food ingredients.
Source: Press release 30 March 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | Barnardo's press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs said that the government should explicitly give one department the lead responsibility for co-ordinating food information policy across both central and local government.
Source: Food Information, Seventh Report (Session 2004-05), HC 469, House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2005-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs expressed concern that a 48-hour access target for sexual health services might not be achieved within the timeframe specified without additional spending, and that inadequate facilities might present a barrier to service expansion. It said that rejected asylum seekers and illegal immigrants should get HIV treatment free on the National Health Service, and criticized the withdrawal of free treatment from these groups. It also called for compulsory sex education in schools.
Source: New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy, Third Report (Session 2004-05), HC 252, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | National Aids Trust press release | THT press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2005-Mar
The food standards watchdog published its annual report for 2003-04.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2003/04, HC 200, Food Standards Agency, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Feb
A report said that efforts to improve public health and combat obesity, diabetes and sexually transmitted disease were likely to be undermined by a culture that encouraged National Health Service managers to give higher priority to hospital care.
Source: David Hunter and Janice Robinson, Managing for Health: What incentives exist for NHS managers to focus on wider health issues?, King s Fund (020 7307 2591)
Links: Summary (pdf) | KF press release
Date: 2005-Feb
The government announced that new minimum health specifications for processed foods - such as beefburgers, sausages and cakes - would be introduced in schools from September 2005, in order to reduce their fat, salt and sugar contents - ahead of the introduction of tougher standards for school meals in 2006.
Source: Press release 10 February 2005, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: DfES press release | CPAG press release | NCH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
A survey found that parents were more worried about sex, drugs, smoking, strangers and bullying than about alcohol misuse by their own children. A significant number of parents questioned the need for specific education about alcohol.
Source: Research Works Limited, Mind the Gap: Alcohol education and the role of parents, Portman Group (020 7907 3700)
Links: Report (pdf) | Portman Group press release
Date: 2005-Jan
The schools inspectorate said that too many secondary schools saw achievement in personal, social and health education ('PSHE') only in terms of pupils subject knowledge, and made no attempt to judge whether there had been any impact on their attitudes and personal development.
Source: Personal, Social and Health Education in Secondary Schools, HMI 2311, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | OFSTED press release | HDA press release | Institute of Education press release | Brook press release | FPA press release | Guardian report | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Jan
Following consultation, the Scottish Executive published a strategy and action plan for improving sexual health.
Source: Respect and Responsibility: Strategy and action plan for improving sexual health, Scottish Executive (0131 244 2568)
Links: Report (pdf) | Consultation responses | SE press release | FPA press release
Date: 2005-Jan
A report by an official advisory body called for improvements to food assurance schemes to offer better choice for consumers in terms of environmental, welfare and nutritional issues. (Assurance schemes are designed to reassure consumers over issues such as food safety, animal welfare and environmental impacts.)
Source: Sustainability Implications of the Little Red Tractor Scheme, Sustainable Development Commission (020 7944 4964)
Links: Report (pdf) | SDC press release
Date: 2005-Jan
