Conservative Party proposes a public health commission
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《英国医生杂志》
The UK Conservative Party has suggested setting up an independent public health commission to improve coordination of national approaches to reducing problems such as smoking and obesity.
Outlining the party’s public health strategy last week, the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: "The government has failed to make public health a priority. Existing strategies are fragmented and contradictory."
He continued: "To ensure a coordinated approach nationally and across government we will bring in a Public Health Act to establish a public health commission. This will be an independent body that will have a similar role, although on public health, to the National Audit Office. Its functions will be to gather evidence, publish reports and make recommendations to government and parliament."
Dr Peter Tiplady, the chairman of the BMA’s public health committee, said that doctors would welcome the appointment of a body that could act across different sectors. "We would be interested in the idea of an independent public health body with a commissioner.
"We are unhappy with the way that the Department of Health works in terms of public health—it is effectively a department of health services rather than a Department of Health; public health issues tend to get left out."
He added: "A commission for public health that was totally independent of government would be able to work with different departments and pull everyone together—including departments of education, transport and environment—on public health issues."
Mr Lansley criticised the current government for dividing responsibility between too many departments and sending out "mixed messages" and "incoherent strategies." He said: "We will implement policies to ensure a coordinated approach . . . and will set in place a clear framework of accountability to ensure that there is a coherent strategy on public health."
Dr Tiplady considered that targets for public health measures—similar to those currently set for disease management—together with appropriate resources could greatly improve the implementation of public health initiatives.
The Conservatives’ public health strategy also proposed consulting on the joint appointments of public health directors by local authorities and NHS with powers for them to use health service funds to meet public health objectives through interventions in any public sector function.
Mr Lansley said: "Public health problems cannot always be answered with NHS solutions, which is why, we suggest, public health directors need to be able to use resources in other areas."
Dr Tiplady considered that this approach would give directors of public health the local support they needed to act more effectively. "It would give district councils real ownership in public health services at a local level," he concluded.
Finally, the Conservatives’ public health policy emphasised a greater role for employers in public health. It proposed an "investors in health" standard, similar to the Investors in People model supported by the Confederation of British Industry, to encourage employers "to take responsibility for improving the health of their employees and to reduce the burden on the NHS as well as the benefits system."(London Susan Mayor)
Outlining the party’s public health strategy last week, the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: "The government has failed to make public health a priority. Existing strategies are fragmented and contradictory."
He continued: "To ensure a coordinated approach nationally and across government we will bring in a Public Health Act to establish a public health commission. This will be an independent body that will have a similar role, although on public health, to the National Audit Office. Its functions will be to gather evidence, publish reports and make recommendations to government and parliament."
Dr Peter Tiplady, the chairman of the BMA’s public health committee, said that doctors would welcome the appointment of a body that could act across different sectors. "We would be interested in the idea of an independent public health body with a commissioner.
"We are unhappy with the way that the Department of Health works in terms of public health—it is effectively a department of health services rather than a Department of Health; public health issues tend to get left out."
He added: "A commission for public health that was totally independent of government would be able to work with different departments and pull everyone together—including departments of education, transport and environment—on public health issues."
Mr Lansley criticised the current government for dividing responsibility between too many departments and sending out "mixed messages" and "incoherent strategies." He said: "We will implement policies to ensure a coordinated approach . . . and will set in place a clear framework of accountability to ensure that there is a coherent strategy on public health."
Dr Tiplady considered that targets for public health measures—similar to those currently set for disease management—together with appropriate resources could greatly improve the implementation of public health initiatives.
The Conservatives’ public health strategy also proposed consulting on the joint appointments of public health directors by local authorities and NHS with powers for them to use health service funds to meet public health objectives through interventions in any public sector function.
Mr Lansley said: "Public health problems cannot always be answered with NHS solutions, which is why, we suggest, public health directors need to be able to use resources in other areas."
Dr Tiplady considered that this approach would give directors of public health the local support they needed to act more effectively. "It would give district councils real ownership in public health services at a local level," he concluded.
Finally, the Conservatives’ public health policy emphasised a greater role for employers in public health. It proposed an "investors in health" standard, similar to the Investors in People model supported by the Confederation of British Industry, to encourage employers "to take responsibility for improving the health of their employees and to reduce the burden on the NHS as well as the benefits system."(London Susan Mayor)