Public Health Reasearch Priorities and Related Developments (BBC News / PHE / NAO)

Summary

A consultation document presents Public Health England (PHE)’s plans for research, development and innovation. The seven priorities are:

1. Tackling obesity.
2. Reducing smoking.
3. Reducing harmful drinking.
4. Ensuring every child has the best start in life.
5. Reducing dementia risks.
6. Tackling antimicrobial resistance.
7. Reducing tuberculosis.

The consultation closes on March 3^rd 2015.

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Reference

Doing, supporting and using public health research: the Public Health England strategy for research, development and innovation. London: Public Health England (PHE), December 2014.

NHS Health Check Programme: Priorities for Research

The NHS Health Check is for 40 to 74 year olds and aims to reduce the risk of people developing preventable conditions, including dementia. This Public Health England document presents research and evaluation priorities for this programme. It includes evidence from the public health sector, and Public Health England’s “take” on current knowledge and academic research concerning NHS Health Checks.

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Reference

NHS Health Check Programme: priorities for research. London: Public Health England, November 2014.

A related literature review:

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Reference

NHS Health Check Programme: literature review. London: Public Health England, November 2014.

NAO Review

Public Health England makes a ring-fenced grant to local authorities with a view to encouraging healthier lifestyles and reducing public health disparities / inequalities in life expectancy. A National Audit Office has indicated that this £2.7bn fund to improve public health in England may not always have been spent effectively.

PHE is assessed to have made a good start on supporting councils in their new roles, but some local authority spending decisions are not fully aligned with areas of concern (for example alcohol abuse).

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Reference

Auditors question public health spend. London: BBC Health News, December 17^th 2014.

This relates to:

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Reference

The Comptroller and Auditor General of the National Audit Office: Morse, A. (2014). Department of Health and Public Health England. Public Health England’s grant to local authorities. National Audit Office Report (HC 888). Session 2014-15. London: The Stationery Office [Department of Health / National Audit Office], December 17^th 2014.

There is also an Executive Summary.

Tackling Unhealthy Lifestyles: a National Priority

Unhealthy lifestyles impose serious burdens on individuals, the NHS and society. Reducing lifestyle-related illnesses, which cost taxpayers millions, is an important component of the NHS Five Year Forward View.

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Reference

Triggle, N. (2015). The cost of being unhealthy. London: BBC Health News, January 26^th 2015.

Benefits of Passive Smoking Reduction Measures

An investigation into the association between England’s smoke-free legislation and avoidable childhood RTI-related hospitalisations has discovered that the introduction of national smoke-free legislation in England was associated with 11,000 fewer hospital admissions per year.

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Reference

Smoking ban in England ‘cuts child hospital admissions’. London: BBC Health News, May 29^th 2015.

This relates to:

Full Text Link (Note: This article requires a suitable Athens password, a journal subscription or payment for access).

Reference

Been, JV. Millett, C. [and] Lee, JT. [et al] (2015). Smoke-free legislation and childhood hospitalisations for respiratory tract infections. European Respiratory Journal, May 28^th 2015. [Epub ahead of print]. (Click here to view the PubMed abstract).