Department calls for major change as lifestyle-driven health problems escalate
Summary
The Department of Health (DH) aims to radically reform the state of public health in England as the standard of living for the poorest reaches alarming levels.
Andrew Lansley details in 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People' that Britain is now the most obese nation in Europe, with some of the worst rates of sexually transmitted infections recorded, and there needs to be a radical shift in the way these serious problems are dealt with.
An underlying problem is that health inequalities between the rich and poor are progressively worsening and it is therefore a high priority for the Government to target deprived areas in society.
Key proposals for reform:
- To protect the population from serious health threats
- To help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives
- To improve the health of the poorest.
The proposals aim to empower individuals to make healthy choices and give communities and local government the freedom, responsibility and funding to innovate and develop ways of improving public health in their area.
A new dedicated public health service - Public Health England - will be created to ensure excellence, expertise and responsiveness, particularly on health protection where a national response is vital.
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