Press Release

Thursday 13 March 2008

Health inequalities: government needs to support local expertise

 

In reaction to the government's publication of Tackling Health Inequalities: 2007 Status Report on the Programme for Action, Faculty of Public Health President, Professor Alan Maryon-Davis was positive about the sustained focus on health inequalities and the slow but steady improvements:

"There's been good progress in some important areas, but reducing the gap remains a challenge. This report shows that government planning and action has caught up with what public health professionals have known for years – that improving health is about improving the ‘bigger picture'. Public health stretches far beyond the boundaries of the NHS and the front door of your local GP surgery."

Although FPH believes that the government will be challenged in meeting the targets originally set in the Programme for Action, it acknowledges that reducing health inequalities is a long-term goal and that the government's continuing focus on health inequalities and the wider determinants of health is extremely positive.

FPH believes that key to tackling of health inequalities is the success of PCTs, local government and other local organisations in working together under the guidance of jointly-appointed directors of public health, a fact recognised by the report and the introduction of the new Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

Professor Maryon-Davis reiterated this: "The NHS and government at local and national level need to continue working with disadvantaged communities to help them to improve their own health and prospects for life. Establishing effective local partnerships is not an overnight task and can require years of work. Above all else the stability of both the health and local government structures is crucial, and we hope that the government will underpin its long-term commitment to reducing health inequalities with a commitment to stability for local NHS and government structures.

He went on to add: "As crucial is the leadership and knowledge of health inequalities within these partnerships, and directors of public health and public health consultants require support so that their knowledge of health inequalities can be part of the planning in everything from housing development to fuel poverty strategies.

"Public health professionals are the lynchpin of success in reducing health inequalities, and ensuring adequate numbers of highly skilled, well trained public health consultants is paramount."

Ends

Notes to editors

  1. For further information contact:

    Policy and Communication Department
    Faculty of Public Health
    T: 020 7935 3115.

    Interviews can be arranged with FPH President , Prof Alan Maryon-Davis.
  2. The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is an authoritative public health body which maintains and improves standards in the public health workforce to improve the health of the population. For further information visit the FPH website: www.fph.org.uk

 

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