A report provided findings from an inquiry into the integrity and assurance of UK food supply networks and suggested measures for a national food crime prevention framework. The government published its response alongside the report, accepting recommendations and setting out proposals that included a new Food Crime Unit to focus effort on enforcement against fraud and criminality in the food chain.
Source: Elliott Review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks – Final Report: A national food crime prevention framework, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Links: Report | Response | Written ministerial statement | DEFRA press release | Queens University press release | Unite press release | WLGA press release
Date: 2014-Sep
The Welsh Government began consultation on proposals to ban smoking in private vehicles when a person under 18 was present. The consultation would close on 24 October 2014.
Source: Smoke-Free Private Vehicles Carrying Children Under 18, Welsh Government
Links: Consultation document | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2014-Sep
A report examined the scope to extend the delivery of alcohol identification and brief advice (IBA) work beyond primary care and hospital settings, and considered the possible facilitators and barriers to its uptake. It said that there was evidence to support the delivery in a range of contexts, including online delivery, but that there were a range of potential challenges to implementation, including the sustainability of initiatives over the longer term.
Source: Betsy Thom, Rachel Herring, Lisa Luger, and Fizz Annand, Delivering Alcohol IBA: Broadening the base from health to non-health contexts – review of the literature and scoping, Alliance Research UK
Date: 2014-Sep
An article examined the concept of the 'health-promoting prison' and how key elements of health promotion discourse (choice, control, and empowerment) could apply in the context of imprisonment, drawing on a study in three secure prisons in England.
Source: James Woodall, Rachael Dixey, and Jane South, 'Control and choice in English prisons: developing health-promoting prisons', Health Promotion International, Volume 29 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Sep
The public health advisory service for England began consultation on proposals to increase physical activity among the population. Two documents outlined the proposals, and discussed implementation and evidence. The consultation would close on 25 September 2014.
Source: Everybody Active, Every Day: An evidence-based approach to physical activity, Department of Health
Links: Report | Evidence report
Date: 2014-Sep
A report said that drug use in the United Kingdom was changing, with increasingly available novel psychoactive substances (often referred to as 'legal highs'), increasing numbers of people presenting for treatment for problems associated with 'club drug' use, and health services that were not adequately equipped to address the serious harms caused by these new patterns. The report considered the related issues, and made recommendations for changes, including: service improvements to make provision for new patterns of drug use, including staff training and development based on the sharing and development of new clinical knowledge; more joined up services, based on better recording of data across the health services; the promotion of research into new drug substances; and improvement of drugs awareness and harm reduction messages for the general public, targeted in 'at risk' locations and environments.
Source: Owen Bowden-Jones, Chris Fitch, Christopher Hilton, Joel Lewis, and Grace Ofori-Attah, One New Drug a Week: Why novel psychoactive substances and club drugs need a different response from UK treatment providers, Faculty report FR/AP/02, Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Links: Report | RCPsych press release
Date: 2014-Sep
A series of three journal articles examined child deaths in high-income countries, highlighting the importance of relative poverty as a social determinant of health.
Source: The Lancet 6-12 September 2014
Links: Table of contents | University of Bristol press release | BBC report | Guardian report | NHS Choices article
Notes: Articles:
James Fraser, Peter Sidebotham, John Frederick, Teresa Covington, and Edwin Mitchell, 'Learning from child death review in the USA, England, Australia, and New Zealand'
Peter Sidebotham, James Fraser, Peter Fleming, Martin Ward-Platt, and Richard Hain, 'Patterns of child death in England and Wales'
Peter Sidebotham, James Fraser, Teresa Covington, Jane Freemantle, Stavros Petrou, Ruth Pulikottil-Jacob, Tessa Cutler, and Catherine Ellis, 'Understanding why children die in high-income countries'
Date: 2014-Sep
A report said that of the three-year-old children in England whose parents gave consent for their participation in a survey 12 per cent had experienced dental decay, with wide regional variation in the prevalence and severity of decay.
Source: Oral Health Survey of Three-Year-Old Children 2013: A report on the prevalence and severity of dental decay, Public Health England
Links: Report | PHE press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2014-Sep
A report examined the relationship between faith and health, and the role of faith communities in improving health and reducing health inequalities in the United Kingdom.
Source: Lucy November, The Impact of Faith-Based Organisations on Public Health and Social Capital, Faith Action
Date: 2014-Sep
A study examined the extent and nature of alcohol health worker (AHW) provision in England (specialist hospital staff who worked with patients who drank at levels that had or could impact on their health). It said that provision had greatly increased, but was variable and precarious, and there was a need both for a review of the AHW function and for more outcomes research to build on the evidence base.
Source: Sarah Baker and Charlie Lloyd, A National Study of Acute Care Alcohol Health Workers, Alcohol Research UK
Date: 2014-Sep
A report called for person centred care to become the central ambition for health reform in England, to improve the quality of life, health, and well-being of people, and the sustainability of care systems. It also discussed the potential contribution of the voluntary and community sector. Recommendations included: for a greater focus on preventive public health measures; to make people the centre of reform, with 'what matters to people' forming one of the key organizing principles for services; for better support and shared decision making for people with chronic conditions and disabilities; for recognition of the role of carers, volunteers, engaged citizens, and the voluntary and community sector, with better support and investment; for better funding for health and social care; and for an end to top-down reorganizations of services.
Source: Person Centred Care 2020: Calls and contributions from health and social care charities, National Voices
Links: Report | National Voices press release
Date: 2014-Sep
A report examined the sexual health-related needs in London of men who have sex with men.
Source: HIV and STIs in Men who Have Sex with Men in London, Public Health England
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Sep
A report examined developments in governance for health in Europe (defined as the attempts of governments and other actors to steer communities, countries, or groups of countries in the pursuit of health as integral to well-being).
Source: Ilona Kickbusch and David Gleicher (eds), Smart Governance for Health and Well-Being: The evidence, World Health Organization
Date: 2014-Sep
A report provided findings from a project that examined, and worked towards, the realization of the potential of the alcohol licensing system to reduce alcohol-related harm in Scotland.
Source: Laura Mahon and James Nicholls, Using Licensing to Protect Public Health: From evidence to practice, Alcohol Research UK
Date: 2014-Aug
A think-tank report examined how young people thought they could be better supported in developing healthy and positive relationships. A survey had found that eight out of ten young people said it was too easy for them accidentally to see pornography online, 70 per cent thought that pornography was damaging views of sex or relationships, almost half said that sharing photos or videos with sexual content was part of everyday life for teenagers, and over 70 per cent of young women felt that pornography had led to pressures on them to act or look a certain way. The survey had also found very high levels of support for school-based sex and relationship education and advice. The report recommended that: sex and relationship education should be taught in every school by specialists, and widened in scope; that there should be a single source of advice and support for parents, educators, and young people, through family information services; and that local authorities' responsibility for public sexual health for young people should be broadened.
Source: Imogen Parker, Young People, Sex and Relationships: The new norms, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | Summary | Guardian article
Date: 2014-Aug
A think-tank report examined drug and alcohol addiction in the United Kingdom. It said that 1.6 million English adults were dependent on alcohol, 300,000 people in England were addicted to opiates and/or crack, and the rate of use of legal highs by young people in the United Kingdom was the highest in Europe. The report said that treatment centres focused too heavily on managing addiction, rather than promoting abstinence, and that the FRANK campaign, aimed at drug and alcohol prevention with young people, was inadequate. The report outlined a wide range of potential responses, including for new powers to prevent the sale of dangerous legal highs, for a 'treatment tax' (of one penny per unit) on alcohol to fund rehabilitation centres, and for benefits sanctions for adults who continually refused treatment for addiction.
Source: Ambitious for Recovery: Tackling drug and alcohol addiction in the UK, Centre for Social Justice
Links: Report | CSJ press release | BBC report
Date: 2014-Aug
A report called for the introduction of key measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, and for political parties to recognize the personal, social, and financial costs associated with alcohol misuse. The 'manifesto' recommendations included: investment in treatment; further regulation of advertising to protect children and young people; and minimum unit pricing.
Source: Manifesto 2015, All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Misuse
Links: Report | Alcohol Concern press release | RCP press release | RSPH press release
Date: 2014-Aug
A report said that children's centres were not receiving the regular data on births and arrivals that was needed to ensure that families received the support they needed. It said that the failure of local authorities and health services to provide this information routinely meant that many vulnerable families might be left unaware of available services. It also meant that children's centres found it more difficult to meet Ofsted expectations (thus affecting their inspection ratings). The report called on the government to clarify a legal duty for local authorities and health services to share data with children's centres.
Source: Kadra Abdinasir and Lucy Capron, The Right Start: How to support early intervention through initial contact with families, Children s Society
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2014-Jul
An article examined the exposure of adolescents to television alcohol advertising in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany. It said that adolescents (aged 10 to 15 years) in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands had higher exposure relative to adults than would be expected from their television viewing. However, younger children in each country (aged 4 to 9) had lower exposure than adults to advertising. The article suggested further work across a wider range of countries to explore the relationship between national policies and youth viewing of alcohol advertising.
Source: Sunil Patil, Eleanor Winpenny, Marc Elliott, Charlene Rohr, and Ellen Nolte, 'Youth exposure to alcohol advertising on television in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 24 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jul
The government began consultation on proposals for regulations to ban smoking in private vehicles carrying children in England. The consultation would close on 27 August 2014.
Source: Smoking in Private Vehicles Carrying Children – Consultation on Proposed Regulations to Be Made under the Children and Families Act 2014, Department of Health
Links: Consultation document | DH press release
Date: 2014-Jul
An article examined how a central government policy imperative (the reduction of alcohol-related hospital admissions) led to 'government at a distance' responses, including the introduction of regional alcohol managers (RAMs) to work with local partners on evidence-based interventions. It said that the processes involved were indicative of a 'complex, interactive policy network model', with three levels of policy network (central government, regional, and local) that left RAMs situated in the middle, pulled between conflicting agendas, but able to have an impact on central and local policy.
Source: Charlie Lloyd, Betsy Thom, Susanne MacGregor, Rachel Herring, Christine Godfrey, Paul Toner, and Jordan Tchilingirian, 'Soft methods, hard targets: regional alcohol managers as a policy network', Journal of Substance Use, Volume 19 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jul
A report mapped school food policies in European countries, to provide a baseline from which to study policy impact and effectiveness.
Source: Stefan Storcksdieck genannt Bonsmann, Therese Kardakis, Jan Wollgast, Michael Nelson, and Sandra Caldeira, Mapping of National School Food Policies across the EU28 plus Norway and Switzerland, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jul
A think-tank report examined the findings of an inquiry into the extent of the challenges posed by age-related hearing loss in the United Kingdom, and how it could be addressed. The report made a range of recommendations to the Department of Health and healthcare providers and commissioners.
Source: Commission on Hearing Loss: Final report, International Longevity Centre – UK
Links: Report | ILC press release
Date: 2014-Jul
A new book examined the links between governance and population health, examining how principles, such as social justice, and governance arrangements, including standards and targets, influenced local strategies and priorities for public health investment.
Source: Linda Marks, Governance, Commissioning and Public Health, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jul
A think-tank report said that, if cervical screening coverage were to reach 100 per cent, the incidence of cancer would halve, resulting in estimated reductions in costs to the National Health Service of almost one half, and costs to the state of around one third, as well as costs to women diagnosed with cervical cancer reducing by around 40 per cent. The report made recommendations for increasing the number of women regularly attending screening by removing practical, psychological, and emotional barriers associated with the procedure, including recommendations for coverage of cervical cancer in awareness campaigns, and for making testing more readily available on demand and through out of hours services.
Source: Jo Salter, Behind the Screen, Demos
Links: Report | Summary | Demos press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the evaluation of community engagement in public health, building on current understandings of evaluation within complex systems. It argued that a paradigm shift was needed towards seeing communities as an essential part of the public health system, such that evaluation would seek to build understanding of whether and how the lay contribution had impacted on the social determinants of health. The article proposed some alternative principles for evaluation.
Source: Jane South and Gemma Phillips, 'Evaluating community engagement as part of the public health system', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 68 Number 7
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
A report evaluated Wirral Health Services in School, a secondary school based health and well-being weekly drop-in clinic for pupils, funded through Public Health in Wirral, in the north west of England. The evaluation examined how the services were implemented, the challenges faced, and how the programme could be improved. The report made a range of recommendations.
Source: Hannah Madden, Lisa Hughes, and Hannah Timpson, Evaluation of the Wirral Health Services in School Programme, Centre for Public Health (Liverpool John Moores University)
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published its national walking strategy, with the stated aims of: creating a 'culture of walking' where everyone walked more often as part of their everyday travel, as well as for recreation and well-being; creating better quality walking environments; and enabling easy, convenient, and safe independent mobility for everyone.
Source: Let's Get Scotland Walking: The National Walking Strategy, Scottish Government
Links: Report | Summary | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The Scottish Government published its strategy for children's sport, alongside the response to an earlier consultation.
Source: Giving Children and Young People a Sporting Chance: Scotland's sport strategy for children and young people, Scottish Government
Links: Strategy | Consultation response papers | Scottish Government press release
Date: 2014-Jun
Two reports outlined action areas for local authorities and their partners to help develop injury prevention strategies to reduce unintentional injuries in and around the home among children under the age of five, and to reduce injuries on the roads among children and young people aged under 25. The reports said that children from the most deprived areas of England were at comparatively greater risk of both types of injury.
Source: Reducing Unintentional Injuries in and Around the Home among Children under Five Years, Public Health England
Links: Report | PHE press release
Source: Reducing Unintentional Injuries on the Roads among Children and Young People under 25 Years, Public Health England
Links: Report | PHE press release
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the progress made in developing the skills and knowledge of the 'wider public health workforce' (non-public health specialists with the ability or opportunity to improve public health) as a way of reducing health inequality and avoidable illness. It evaluated the social and economic impact of five aspects of the wider public health workforce: health trainers; health champions; the Making Every Contact Count initiative; and the role of non-health professionals and the creation of 'healthy settings'. The report considered the case for further investment and called on local authorities and others to engage with their local wider workforce to evaluate and deliver improved health outcomes.
Source: Tackling Health Inequalities: The case for investment in the wider public health workforce, Royal Society for Public Health
Links: Report | RSPH press release
Date: 2014-Jun
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on the work of Public Health England. The response covered issues such as PHE's policy work and its relationship with government, and included a letter from the Public Health Minister to PHE, setting out expectations for the coming year.
Source: Government Response to the House of Commons Health Committee Report on Public Health England (Eighth Report of Session 2013-14), Cm 8881, Department of Health, TSO
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2014-Jun
A think-tank report said that policy on alcohol control and consumption in the United Kingdom (including advertising bans, licensing restrictions, and higher taxes) was based on disputed evidence and failed to help people with problematic alcohol use, while penalizing the majority of responsible consumers. It said that alcohol policy would be more effective and equitable if it was more specifically targeted on those who required help, rather than the whole population.
Source: John Duffy and Christopher Snowdon, Punishing the Majority: The flawed theory behind alcohol control policies, Institute of Economic Affairs
Links: Report | IEA press release
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined public health research in the United Kingdom. It said that research and innovation would be strengthened by strategic co-ordination between (on the one hand) public health researchers/practitioners and (on the other) the research councils, ministries of health, and medical charities. The UK should also play a more active leadership role in European collaboration.
Source: Mark McCarthy, Mariana Dyakova, and Aileen Clarke, 'Public health research in the UK: a report with a European perspective', Journal of Public Health, Volume 36 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
A report examined the impact of women's body image during pregnancy and after child birth. It considered the value of early public health intervention by midwives and health visitors in protecting babies through supporting new mothers with body image issues.
Source: Susie Orbach and Holli Rubin, Two for the Price of One: The impact of body image during pregnancy and after birth, Government Equalities Office
Links: Report | GEO press release
Date: 2014-Jun
A report provided the findings from Public Health England's review of the potential public health impacts of exposures to chemical and radioactive pollutants as a result of the shale gas extraction process.
Source: Review of the Potential Public Health Impacts of Exposures to Chemical and Radioactive Pollutants as a Result of the Shale Gas Extraction Process, Public Health England
Links: Report | Cover note | PHE press release
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the nudge policies that had been proposed to motivate weight loss in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Source: Adam Oliver and Peter Ubel, 'Nudging the obese: a UK-US consideration', Health Economics, Policy and Law, Volume 9 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jun
A report evaluated the Preventing Non-Accidental Head Injury programme, which created a new film to help parents to care for a crying baby, reducing the risk of stress that led to harm to the child. The film had been piloted in 24 hospitals and birthing units around the United Kingdom, and the report said there was promising evidence that the programme could contribute to the reduction of harm to babies. It said that: 99 per cent of parents remembered the film at least six months after watching it; 82 per cent of parents who remembered seeing the film said they used advice from it when caring for their baby; and the rate of reported injuries among babies with feeding, sleeping, or crying difficulties was lower if parents had seen the film.
Source: Sally Hogg and Denise Coster, Helping Parents Cope with Babies' Crying: Evidence from a pilot programme to support parents and keep babies safe, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Links: Report | Focus groups | Impact report | NSPCC press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the link between childhood perceived relative deprivation and a range of measures of mental health. It said that deprivation was associated with hallucination-proneness, paranoia and well-being, and measures of trust, social rank, and beliefs about justice. It noted the limitations of the study, and implications for public mental health.
Source: Sophie Louise Wickham, Nick Shryane, Minna Lyons, Thomas Dickins, and Richard Bentall, 'Why does relative deprivation affect mental health? The role of justice, trust and social rank in psychological wellbeing and paranoid ideation', Journal of Public Mental Health, Volume 13 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
A paper examined alcohol-related deaths in Glasgow. It said that Glasgow's poor health was compounded by high levels of deprivation in the city and, since the 1980s, alcohol-related deaths in the most deprived areas had risen more than those in the least deprived areas. In the city as a whole, alcohol-related deaths had decreased slightly in the early 2000s, which the paper attributed to the impact of the economic downturn and restrictions on alcohol multiple-buy offers, but there had been a disproportionate increase in alcohol-related deaths in young working-age females, and there were still significant differences in alcohol-related mortality across the 21 wards in the city.
Source: Alcohol-related Harm in Glasgow: A national, city and neighbourhood perspective, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Paper
Date: 2014-May
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on new psychoactive substances and prescription drugs. The report said that the government was now launching a review to explore options that included changes to the United Kingdom wide legislative framework, and was also awaiting the findings of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which was investigating the issue of diversion and illicit supply of medicines.
Source: Drugs: New psychoactive substances and prescription drugs, Cm 8857, Home Office, TSO
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the impact of a policing experiment that depenalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis in the London borough of Lambeth on hospital admissions related to illicit drug use. Noting an increase in longer term admission rates for the use of hard drugs, it considered the estimated public health costs.
Source: Elaine Kelly and Imran Rasul, 'Policing cannabis and drug related hospital admissions: evidence from administrative records', Journal of Public Economics, Volume 112
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
An article examined how the global economic recession had affected alcohol use in adults in England. It said that the recession had been associated with less hazardous drinking among the population overall, but with rises in 'binge' drinking among a smaller high-risk group of unemployed drinkers.
Source: Michael Harhay, Jacob Bor, Sanjay Basu, Martin McKee, Jennifer Mindell, Nicola Shelton, and David Stuckler, 'Differential impact of the economic recession on alcohol use among white British adults, 2004-2010', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 24 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the associations between the volume and intensity of older peoples' physical activity and their subsequent health service usage over the following four to five years. The article concluded that community-based programs were needed to engage adults in their late 70s and 80s in more activity that helped them to avoid loss of physical function, and that there was potential for cost savings to health services through reduced reliance on prescriptions and fewer unplanned hospital admissions.
Source: Bethany Simmonds, Kenneth Fox, Mark Davis, Po-Wen Ku, Selena Gray, Melvyn Hillsdon, Debbie Sharp, Afroditi Stathi, Janice Thompson, Joanna Coulson, and Tanya Trayers, 'Objectively assessed physical activity and subsequent health service use of UK adults aged 70 and over: a four to five year follow up study', PLoS ONE, Volume 9 Number 5
Links: Article | University of Bristol press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the development and implementation of the obesity strategy in England 2008 2011, Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives (HWHL), to identify whether stakeholders perceived it to have made any difference to the action to address obesity in England. It said that HWHL was perceived to have made a positive difference, but that there were some areas of omission, including a failure to identify mechanisms for learning about the effectiveness of different elements and actions in the strategy. It concluded that the experience lent support to the development of population-based obesity strategies.
Source: Corinna Hawkes, Amy Ahern, and Susan Jeb, 'A stakeholder analysis of the perceived outcomes of developing and implementing England's obesity strategy 2008-2011', BMC Public Health, Volume 14
Links: Article
Date: 2014-May
A report provided findings from a survey that examined the health and well-being of looked-after children in Liverpool (a city in north west England). Noting the low response rate, the report made a range of recommendations for children and carers.
Source: Hannah Timpson, Lindsay Eckley, and Rachel Lavin, British Heart Foundation Hearty Lives Programme: Assessing the health and wellbeing of looked after children and their carers in Liverpool – Final report, Centre for Public Health (Liverpool John Moores University)
Links: Report
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the nature and origin of problems with partnership working for the treatment of drug dependency in the United Kingdom. It said that the reframing of drug policy had resulted in the articulation of inconsistent messages that may have affected the development of varying interpretations and polarized treatment ideologies, which then acted as a potential barrier to effective working.
Source: Samantha Weston, 'The origins of conflict in dependent drug treatment: lessons for partnership working', British Journal of Community Justice, Volume 12 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
An article examined reasons behind the impact of poor socio-economic status on outcomes for younger children. It said that the lower a family's socio-economic status the greater the likelihood that they would have children who were obese, had impaired social and emotional skills, or had impaired language acquisition. The article, based on a rapid evidence review, considered reasons for this 'social gradient', and made suggestions for actions to redress inequalities.
Source: Angela Donkin, Jillian Roberts, Alison Tedstone, and Michael Marmot, 'Family socio-economic status and young children's outcomes', Journal of Children's Services, Volume 9 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the links between adverse childhood experiences and health-harming behaviours (defined as early sexual initiation, unintended teenage pregnancy, smoking, binge drinking, drug use, violence victimization, violence perpetration, incarceration, poor diet, or low levels of physical exercise), based on a survey of adults in England. It concluded that stable and protective childhoods were critical factors in the development of resilience to health-harming behaviours.
Source: Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes, Nicola Leckenby, Clare Perkins, and Helen Lowey, 'National household survey of adverse childhood experiences and their relationship with resilience to health-harming behaviors in England', BMC Medicine, Volume 12
Links: Article
Date: 2014-May
A study examined whether organizational changes to the National Health Service and public health had an impact on alcohol services and activity in England and, in particular, on the funding for, and prioritization of, alcohol. The interim report said that there was a greater focus on alcohol issues since reorganization, but there were concerns over funding, with two-thirds of clinical commissioning groups not directly funding any alcohol services or activity. However, the report noted that work in this area was ongoing, and said that a further survey was planned for June 2014 that would explore further developments.
Source: A Measure of Change: An evaluation of the impact of the public health transfer to local authorities on alcohol – interim Report, Alcohol Concern
Links: Report | Alcohol Concern press release
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the effectiveness of a school based intervention (Active for Life Year 5, or AFLY5) to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behaviour, and increase fruit and vegetable consumption in children in school year 5 (age 9-10 years) in south west England. It said that the findings suggested that AFLY5 was not effective in achieving these three aims, although it was effective in reducing child reported screen use at weekends and self reported consumption of snacks and high energy drinks. The article concluded that more intensive behavioural interventions with children, or interventions at the family, societal, or school environment level, may be needed to effect change.
Source: Ruth Kipping, Laura Howe, Russell Jago, Rona Campbell, Sian Wells, Catherine Chittleborough, Julie Mytton, Sian Noble, Tim Peters, and Debbie Lawlor, 'Effect of intervention aimed at increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour, and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children: Active for Life Year 5 (AFLY5) school based cluster randomised controlled trial', BMJ, Volume 348
Links: Abstract | BMJ press release | University of Bristol press release
Date: 2014-May
A report said that 70 per cent of United Kingdom prisoners responding to a survey admitted they had been drinking when they committed the offence for which they were imprisoned, yet only half of those prisoners recognized their drinking as a problem. The report said that services available in prison were based on alcohol dependency rather than behaviour, and that only 40 per cent of the survey respondents had been made aware of the support available to them when they left prison. The report called for alcohol treatment services to form a key part of prison rehabilitation, for all frontline prison staff to be given specialist alcohol awareness training, for specialist support services for women, for a needs analysis to inform the commissioning of alcohol-related services, and for continuing 'through the gate' support for prisoners on release from prison.
Source: Sophie Kydd and Natalie Roe, The Alcohol and Crime Commission Report, Alcohol and Crime Commission
Links: Report | Addaction press release | Durham University press release
Date: 2014-May
A paper considered the potential for patient activation (using patients' own knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their own health and health care) to reduce health inequalities, deliver improved patient outcomes, and enable better quality care and lower costs.
Source: Judith Hibbard and Helen Gilburt, Supporting People to Manage their Health: An introduction to patient activation, King's Fund
Date: 2014-May
An article examined the impact of crime and fear of crime on health and well-being, drawing on a systematic review. It said that there were complex and often indirect links between crime, fear of crime, environment, and health and well-being at both individual and population levels. Fear was associated with poorer health outcomes, although there was some debate about the measurement of this. The review had found little evidence that street lighting improvements, closed-circuit television, multicomponent environmental crime prevention programmes, or regeneration programmes reduced fear of crime, and the results around housing initiatives were mixed. The article concluded that broader social interventions appeared more effective than those focused on crime, and that crime and fear of crime appeared to be linked to health and well-being mainly as aspects of socio-economic disadvantage.
Source: Theo Lorenc, Mark Petticrew, Margaret Whitehead, David Neary, Stephen Clayton, Kath Wright, Hilary Thomson, Steven Cummins, Amanda Sowden, and Adrian Renton, 'Crime, fear of crime and mental health: synthesis of theory and systematic reviews of interventions and qualitative evidence', Public Health Research, Volume 2 Issue 2
Date: 2014-Apr
Public Health England published a range of data and other information on end of life and end of life care needs in England. The reports highlighted the variance in data across the country and provided resources on which clinical commissioning groups could draw when planning services.
Source: Public Health England
Links: End of life care profiles | PHE press release
Source: Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems (EPaCCS) in England: Survey of clinical commissioning groups (2013) by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network, Public Health England
Links: Report | PHE press release
Source: Patterns of End of Life Care in England, 2008 to 2010: Analysis of the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network local authority profiles by PHE region and centre, Public Health England
Links: Report | PHE press release
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined the Well London programme, a multicomponent community engagement and coproduction programme designed to improve the health of Londoners living in socio-economically deprived neighbourhoods. It examined, in particular, the nature of the benefits to residents and the processes by which these were achieved.
Source: Jane Derges, Angela Clow, Rebecca Lynch, Sumeet Jain, Gemma Phillips, Mark Petticrew, Adrian Renton, and Alizon Draper, '"Well London" and the benefits of participation: results of a qualitative study nested in a cluster randomised trial', BMJ Open, Volume 4 Number 4
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined the role of neighbourhood green space in determining levels of participation in physical activity among elderly men with different levels of physical ability. Drawing on a study conducted in Caerphilly, Wales, it said that elderly men living in neighbourhoods with more green space had higher levels of participation in regular physical activity, although the association varied according to lower extremity physical function. It discussed the implications for the design of health/activity interventions and planning policy.
Source: Yi Gong, John Gallacher, Stephen Palmer, and David Fone, 'Neighbourhood green space, physical function and participation in physical activities among elderly men: the Caerphilly Prospective study', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Volume 11
Links: Article
Date: 2014-Apr
An article examined the demographic distribution of selected health-related behaviours and their relationship with different indicators of well-being, using data the youth panel of the Understanding Society household study. Generally, younger youth participated in more health-protective behaviours, while older youth reported more health-risk behaviours. Higher consumption of fruit and vegetables and greater participation in sport were associated with higher odds of high happiness. Healthier eating was associated with lower odds of socio-emotional difficulties, while increased fast food consumption was associated with higher odds of socio-emotional difficulties. Smoking, drinking, and decreased sport participation were all associated with socio-emotional difficulties. Health-protective behaviours were associated with happiness, while health-risk behaviours were associated with socio-emotional difficulties.
Source: Cara Booker, Alexandra Skew, Amanda Sacker, and Yvonne Kelly, 'Well-being in adolescence – an association with health-related behaviors: findings from Understanding Society, the UK household longitudinal study', Journal of Early Adolescence, Volume 34 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Apr
A new book examined geographic patterns of common environmental exposures and diseases, alongside analysis of mortality, cancer incidences, and other health data in England and Wales.
Source: Anna Hansell, Linda Beale, Rebecca Ghosh, Lea Fortunato, Daniela Fecht, Lars Jarup, and Paul Elliott, The Environment and Health Atlas for England and Wales, Oxford University Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Apr
A report examined the economic costs of physical inactivity in young people. It said that nearly half of all 11-25 year olds in England did not engage in the recommended levels of physical activity and that this was more common among young women, as well as children from lower-income households. The report said that physical inactivity among today's 11-25 year olds would cost £53.3 billion over their lifetimes in today's prices, through increased levels of diseases linked to inactivity, reduced quality of life, and lower life expectancy.
Source: The Inactivity Time Bomb: The economic cost of physical inactivity in young people, Street Games/Centre for Economics and Business Research
Links: Report | Street Games comment | Sport and Recreation Alliance press release
Date: 2014-Apr
A report summarized results of a research project that calculated the cost of poor quality housing in London. It said that conditions varied considerably both between and within boroughs and that housing in some areas was significantly worse than both the national and London average. The report said that improvements to the housing stock could save the National Health Service £56 million per year, and that the overall savings could amount to over £140 million if costs related to living in poor housing (such as lack of educational attainment, lost work days, additional cost to the emergency and social services, and additional energy and insurance costs) were included.
Source: Helen Garrett, Maggie Davidson, Simon Nicol, Mike Ross, and Claire Summers, The Cost of Poor Housing in London, BRE Press
Links: Summary | BRE press release
Date: 2014-Apr
The Welsh Government began consultation on proposals to introduce public health legislation. The proposals included: action to reduce harms to health caused by smoking, alcohol misuse, and obesity; strengthening the role of Local Health Boards when planning and delivering pharmaceutical services; improved provision and access to toilets for public use; and better regulation of certain types of procedures, such as cosmetic piercing and tattooing. The consultation would close on 24 June 2014.
Source: Listening to You: Your health matters – consultation on proposals for a Public Health Bill, WG20703, Welsh Government
Links: Consultation document | Welsh Government press release | NHS Wales press release
Date: 2014-Apr
A report provided the findings from a review of whether the introduction of standardized packaging for tobacco products would affect public health, in particular in relation to the health of children. The report concluded that standardized packaging would be likely to contribute to a reduction in smoking, and thus have a positive impact on public health. The government announced, in response to the report, that it was minded now to introduce regulations to provide for standardized packaging, subject to a short consultation.
Source: Cyril Chantler, Standardised Packaging of Tobacco, Department of Health
Links: Report | Related documents | King's College press release | DH press release | Scottish Government press release | RCN press release | RCP press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Scotsman report
Date: 2014-Apr
A report examined the reduction in costs to the National Health Service as a result of improvements to social housing arising from the Decent Homes programme (2001-2010). The report also considered the additional social costs of poor quality homes, the impact of other housing-related safety hazards, the work required to resolve remaining non-decent homes, and the sustainability of existing good standards.
Source: Helen Garrett, Maggie Davidson, Mike Roys, Simon Nicol, and Viv Mason, Quantifying the Health Benefits of the Decent Homes Programme, BRE Press
Links: Report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2014-Apr
A report provided the findings from a review of deaths of children and young people through suicide in Wales. It outlined possible opportunities and actions for suicide prevention, including: access to means of suicide; improving partnership working; focusing on evidence based interventions; public awareness and stigma; and undertaking future thematic reviews. The panel made 20 recommendations, including: for measures to restrict access to alcohol; for an all-Wales child protection register, accessible by relevant services including emergency departments; further work on implementation of the national guidelines on the management of self harm; and for the development of statutory mechanisms for information sharing for the Child Death Review Programme.
Source: Ann John, Beverley Heatman, Ciaran Humphreys, and Lorna Price, Thematic Review of Deaths of Children and Young People Through Probable Suicide, 2006-2012, Public Health Wales NHS Trust
Links: Report | PHW press release
Date: 2014-Mar
A new book examined the findings from a study of public health partnerships in England and the ways in which changes in public health were being implemented. Drawing on systems thinking, it argued that partnerships could only succeed if they significantly changed the ways in which they worked.
Source: David Hunter and Neil Perkins, Partnership Working in Public Health, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the findings of a systematic review of evidence on the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who had sex with men (MSM), and various health conditions and sexual risk behaviours. It said that MSM who were victims of IPV were more likely to engage in substance use, experience depression, be HIV positive, and not use protection during penetrative sex. Those who perpetrated IPV were found to be more likely to engage in substance use. The article said that the work highlighted the need for research into effective interventions and for training for health professionals.
Source: Ana Maria Buller, Karen Devries, Louise Howard, and Loraine Bacchus, 'Associations between intimate partner violence and health among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis', PLoS Med, Volume 11 Number 3
Links: Article | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Mar
A special issue of a journal critically examined policies and practices for influencing health behaviours.
Source: Sociology of Health and Illness, Volume 36 Number 2
Links: Table of contents
Notes: Articles included:
David Armstrong, 'Actors, patients and agency: a recent history'
Christine Horrocks and Sally Johnson, 'A socially situated approach to inform ways to improve health and wellbeing'
Sarah Nettleton and Judith Green, 'Thinking about changing mobility practices: how a social practice approach can help'
Date: 2014-Mar
A report examined the impact on public health of a policy, introduced in London in 2005, of granting young people access to free bus and tram travel. It said that the scheme had benefits for social determinants of health, such as the normalization of bus travel, greater social inclusion, and opportunities for independent travel, and that it appeared to be a cost-effective means of contributing to social inclusion. It recommended further research.
Source: Judith Green, Rebecca Steinbach, Alasdair Jones, Phil Edwards, Charlotte Kelly, John Nellthorp, Anna Goodman, Helen Roberts, Mark Petticrew, and Paul Wilkinson, 'On the buses: a mixed-method evaluation of the impact of free bus travel for young people on the public health', Public Health Research, Volume 2 Issue 1
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined the effects of parental attitudes on children's physical activity. Substantial inter-generational transfers of behaviours were found, in particular for male adults and male children. Female children's sport participation was only marginally influenced by female adult's physical activity when growing up. Promoting sport to the younger generation seemed to be a fruitful strategy in creating a sporting habit and promoting sport participation: but there were challenges to be overcome in promoting female participation.
Source: Paul Downward, Kirstin Hallmann, and Tim Pawlowski, 'Assessing parental impact on the sports participation of children: a socio-economic analysis of the UK', European Journal of Sport Science, Volume 14 Issue 1
Links: Article
Date: 2014-Feb
A report provided a synthesis of the evidence from the evaluation of Family Nurse Partnerships in Scotland. This was a preventative programme that aimed to improve health, development and well-being outcomes for young first time mothers and their children through a structured programme of home visits delivered by specially trained Family Nurses. The report said that the evaluation had been unable to measure or demonstrate impact over and above that which might have been achieved through existing services, but there was evidence that the programme could achieve its intended long-term outcomes.
Source: Rachel Ormiston, Susan McConville, and Jacki Gordon, Evaluation of the Family Nurse Partnership Programme in NHS Lothian, Scotland: Summary of key learning and implications, Scottish Government
Date: 2014-Feb
A consultation was launched to examine opportunities for health inequalities to be addressed at the local level through the work of local authorities. The consultation would inform evidence reviews on behalf of Public Health England and would close on 21 February 2014.
Source: Overview of Consultation: Implementing the Marmot Review locally, Institute of Health Equity (University College, London)
Links: Consultation document | Associated paper
Date: 2014-Feb
An article said that the amount of alcohol consumed in England could be much higher than previously thought, based on a comparison of alcohol sales figures with surveys of what people said they drank.
Source: Sadie Boniface and Nicola Shelton, 'How is alcohol consumption affected if we account for under-reporting? A hypothetical scenario', European Journal of Public Health, Volume 23 Issue 6
Links: Abstract | UCL press release | RCP press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined smoking practices in young adulthood in England, the role of smoking in the 'spaces' of the night-time economy, and the impact of smoke-free legislation.
Source: Catriona Rooke, Amanda Amos, Gill Highet, and Katrina Hargreaves, 'Smoking spaces and practices in pubs, bars and clubs: young adults and the English smokefree legislation', Health and Place, Volume 19
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined how to define and measure resilience for public health purposes. Noting the complexity of the concept, it said that, although it might be possible to be resilient in the face of poverty and deprivation, successive periods of stress might introduce vulnerabilities that would erode resilience over longer timeframes. The report proposed a definition of resilience as 'the capacity for populations to endure, adapt and generate new ways of thinking and functioning in the context of change, uncertainty or adversity'.
Source: Pete Seaman, Valerie McNeice, Gregor Yates, and Jennifer McLean, Resilience for Public Health: Supporting transformation in people and communities, Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Links: Report | Briefing paper
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined whether factors related to work stress explained national differences in health and productivity in European countries. The 'psychosocial safety climate' was found to be the most important workplace determinant of national differences in worker health; and union density was the most important external determinant of psychosocial safety, health, and national income.
Source: Maureen Dollard and Daniel Neser, 'Worker health is good for the economy: union density and psychosocial safety climate as determinants of country differences in worker health and productivity in 31 European countries', Social Science & Medicine, Volume 92
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Feb
A report examined how public health approaches had adapted in the first nine months since the transfer of responsibility to local authorities in April 2013. It discussed a range of approaches across case study areas, noting key challenges arising from restricted budgets and a disproportional impact of the recession.
Source: Public Health Transformation Nine Months On: Bedding in and reaching out, Local Government Association
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
A report provided an overview of the drug and alcohol treatment sector in England. It said that although changes in public health, and in commissioning, had not yet had a significant impact, organizations reported that they expected to go through a period of recommissioning. 35 per cent of respondents reported decreased funding, compared with 20 per cent reporting an increase, and frontline staff had reduced in almost half of respondent organizations. The report said that engagement with health and wellbeing boards and Police and Crime Commissioners was mixed, and respondents had limited confidence about the inclusion of drugs and alcohol services in joint strategic needs assessments or Police and Crime Plans. The report noted longstanding and ongoing concerns about housing and housing support, support for clients with complex needs or multiple exclusions, and employment and employment support. A further survey was planned for 2014.
Source: State of the Sector 2013, DrugScope/Recovery Partnership
Links: Report | Summary | DrugScope press release
Date: 2014-Feb
A special issue of a journal examined the interrelationships between housing, health, and social care, drawing on research and practice.
Source: Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 22 Number 1
Links: Table of contents
Notes: Articles included:
Adrian Phillips and Andy Baker, 'Housing and health – a public health perspective'
Liz Blackender and Jo Prestidge, 'Pan London personalised budgets for rough sleepers'
Diane Lea, 'Putting housing at the heart of health reforms'
Date: 2014-Feb
A report by a committee of MPs said that the transition of public health responsibilities to Public Health England had been smooth and that service delivery had not suffered as a result. It raised a number of operational concerns, including concerns about capacity at the local government level, and discussed the political independence of the body.
Source: Public Health England, Eighth Report (Session 2013–14), HC 840, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2014-Feb
An article examined the concept of well-being and discussed its influences on public health structures, policy-making and policy delivery at the local level.
Source: Vincent La Placa and Anneyce Knight, 'Well-being: its influence and local impact on public health', Public Health, Volume 128 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jan
A report said there were increasing levels of physical inactivity across England, and outlined the causes of inactivity, levels of public spending, and the interventions which were being effective.
Source: Turning the Tide of Inactivity, ukactive
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2014-Jan
An article examined the treatment of adverse effects in the evaluation of public health interventions. It presented a framework for considering a range of potential harms: direct harms; psychological harms; equity harms; group and social harms; and opportunity harms. It concluded that a broad range of adverse effects should be taken into account when implementing and evaluating public health interventions and strategies.
Source: Theo Lorenc and Kathryn Oliver, 'Adverse effects of public health interventions: a conceptual framework', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 68
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jan
A report presented articles providing expert views on a range of ways in which local authorities in the United Kingdom could improve health and reduce health inequalities. Subjects covered by the contributions included: living wage (Kate Pickett); early childhood education (Edward Melhuish); speed limits (Danny Dorling); health-related 'worklessness' (Clare Bambra); 'age-friendly' communities (Hal Kendig and Chris Phillipson); participatory budgeting (Kwame McKenzie); employment conditions of public sector workers (James Nazroo); adult and further education (Tarani Chandola and Andrew Jenkins); and policy evaluation and cost effectiveness (Alan Maynard).
Source: If You Could Do One Thing... : Nine local actions to reduce health inequalities, British Academy
Links: Report | Summary | British Academy press release
Date: 2014-Jan
A report examined levels of obesity in the United Kingdom population. It said that weight management and obesity represented significant public health issues, and that existing figures suggested that the predictions of the 2007 Foresight Report (that half the population might be obese by 2050) might underestimate the scale of the issue. The report noted that there had been a reduction in the number of obese and overweight children in their final year of primary school in England, but that childhood obesity still remained high. The report made recommendations.
Source: Obesity in the UK: Analysis and expectations, National Obesity Forum
Links: Report | NOF press release | NHS UK report | BBC report
Date: 2014-Jan
