Health Management and Policy Alert

Structurally unsound: exploring inequalities: igniting research to better inform UK policy

University College London -
This report argues that the UK government's current approach to tackling inequality needs to address the multiple levels of disadvantage that some people face. The report gives many examples where inequalities remain, including within health and life expectancy. The report recommends five cross‑cutting themes for the research and policymaking community to consider to effectively tackle structural inequalities in the UK: language, opportunity, understanding evidence, voice, and place.

• Report
• University College London - publications

A consensus on healthy ageing

Public Health England -
This statement by Public Health England and the Centre for Ageing Better sets out a shared vision for making England the best place in the world to grow old. Signatories span the areas of health, employment, housing and communities, and are from academia, local government, the NHS, and the public and voluntary sectors.

• Statement
• Public Health England - publications

A healthy foundation for the future: the final report of the young people’s future health inquiry

The Health Foundation -
This report summarises the work of a two-year inquiry into young people’s future health. It urges the government to overhaul policies across housing, transport and education and adopt a whole government approach to secure the future health of today’s young people. The recommendations for action include calls for a consistent approach to discounted and free public transport for students across the UK and a review of the impact the current testing regime in schools has on mental health.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - press release

Time to solve childhood obesity: an independent report by the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report calls for action across industry and the public sector to help the government reach its target of halving childhood obesity by 2030. It sets out a range of recommendations for the government, which are supported by ten principles, and builds on the work the government has already done.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Government response to ACMD report 'Ageing cohort of drug users'

Department of Health and Social Care -
This document sets out the government’s response to the recommendations made in the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report Ageing cohort of drug users. The Department of Health and Social Care sought contributions from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations and coordinated responses to the report. Officials from each of the four nations have reviewed the council’s advice and set out work underway to address the recommendations.

• Report
• Letter
• Department of Health - publications

Stoptober 2018: campaign evaluation

Public Health England -
Stoptober is a major annual event to encourage smokers to quit for 28 days in October - with the aim of stopping smoking permanently. This report document measures the impact of Stoptober in 2018. The report aims to assess the scale of the campaign (reach and visibility), the degree to which people engage with different elements of Stoptober, and actions and behaviours Stoptober has generated.

• Report
• Public Health England - publications

Health matters: rough sleeping

Public Health England - 

This guidance focuses on the scale of rough sleeping in England, the causes and consequences of rough sleeping (including the links with poor physical and mental health, prevention and effective interventions) and relevant calls to action.

• Guidance

Creating healthy places: perspectives from NHS England’s Healthy New Towns programme

The King's Fund - 
These essays highlight a number of themes, including the value of taking a place-based approach to population health, the need for specific action on health inequalities, the importance of working closely with communities and the potential to use new places as a test bed for integrated care. The report concludes that there is significant potential to improve population health through place-making and community development. It also stresses the need for the NHS to be closely involved in major housing developments and regeneration programmes in order to improve health and care outcomes.

• Read it now

Individual and local area factors associated with self-reported wellbeing, perceived social cohesion and sense of attachment to one’s community: analysis of the Understanding Society Survey

What Works Centre for Wellbeing - 

The findings reported here are from an analysis of data from the Understanding Society Survey (USS) which follows a large sample of people from across Britain over time. This study was undertaken to examine questions likely to be especially relevant for those working in the field of public health intelligence, using small area statistics to identify localities where interventions may particularly need to be targeted in order to reduce inequalities in wellbeing across England.

• Report

Psychological perspectives on obesity: addressing policy, practice and research priorities

British Psychological Society - 

This report calls for government to ensure every initiative aimed at promoting a healthy weight is informed by psychological evidence. It says weight management services are best delivered by multidisciplinary teams that include psychologists. All health professionals working in obesity services should be trained in the psychological understanding of obesity so they understand the factors that can contribute to the condition and to the success or failure of treatment.

• Report
• Press release