Right back at you
The Government's response to the Health Select Committee's report on Health Inequalities offers a defence of its policy and practice. Areas challenged include: the "trade off" between redistributing health resources to tackle inequalities and NICE technology appraisal, the government's commitment to evaluating initiatives, effectiveness of the Sure Start programme and the vulnerability of public health budgets. On this last matter, the government's paper notes that ACRA (the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation) is working on a new approach to inequalities and allocation after 2010-11. The Government also appears to accept the Committee's recommendation that it needed a clearer understanding of how PCTs spend funding provided under the inequalities allocation.
Wednesday 27 May 2009
A picture of Britain
NHS Information Centre published its latest report on alcohol last week. Drawing on a range of published resources, the report analyses drinking behaviour amongst adults and children, attitudes to alcohol and drink-related costs, ill-health and mortality, largely using data from 2007/8. It also discusses the issue of cost and affordability of alcohol. Meanwhile the Home Office is consulting on how alcohol is sold and supplied. The consultation, which proposes a new code for retailers, closes on 5 August. A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looks at case studies from other fields, such as youth smoking prevention, that may help to frame policy approaches to dealing with alcohol harm.
NHS Information Centre published its latest report on alcohol last week. Drawing on a range of published resources, the report analyses drinking behaviour amongst adults and children, attitudes to alcohol and drink-related costs, ill-health and mortality, largely using data from 2007/8. It also discusses the issue of cost and affordability of alcohol. Meanwhile the Home Office is consulting on how alcohol is sold and supplied. The consultation, which proposes a new code for retailers, closes on 5 August. A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looks at case studies from other fields, such as youth smoking prevention, that may help to frame policy approaches to dealing with alcohol harm.
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Every Child Matters
The DCSF has launched its new Every Child Matters website. The new site provides a single point of access for the three key sites, ECM, Sure Start and the DCSF Local Authorities area. From 14 May, these sites will no longer be updated, although will still be accessible for a while.
The DCSF has launched its new Every Child Matters website. The new site provides a single point of access for the three key sites, ECM, Sure Start and the DCSF Local Authorities area. From 14 May, these sites will no longer be updated, although will still be accessible for a while.
Friday 15 May 2009
Housing
A useful guide to housing issues faced by families with a disabled child has been published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It's aimed at non-specialists and offers a good summary of the issues involved, along with case studies.
A useful guide to housing issues faced by families with a disabled child has been published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It's aimed at non-specialists and offers a good summary of the issues involved, along with case studies.
Violence against women
A new taskforce looking at how to spot early signs of violence against women and girls has been announced by the Health Secretary. The group, which includes health professionals as well as women's organisations, will investigate the scale of the problem as well as aiming to provide effective training for NHS staff.
A new taskforce looking at how to spot early signs of violence against women and girls has been announced by the Health Secretary. The group, which includes health professionals as well as women's organisations, will investigate the scale of the problem as well as aiming to provide effective training for NHS staff.
Inequalities toolkit
A team at Sheffield University has developed a toolkit for helping NHS providers and commissioners address inequalities in access to healthcare. The work was a product of an action research project in Yorkshire and Humberside and can be used alongside the Department of Health document Health Equity Audit: a guide for the NHS.
A team at Sheffield University has developed a toolkit for helping NHS providers and commissioners address inequalities in access to healthcare. The work was a product of an action research project in Yorkshire and Humberside and can be used alongside the Department of Health document Health Equity Audit: a guide for the NHS.
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Asthma management
Marking National Asthma Awareness Week, Health Secretary Alan Johnson called for local health agencies and schools to improve management of children’s asthma.There is a new Best Practice Guide on children’s asthma in development and adult asthma will be one of the focus areas in the strategy on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease expected later this year. However, Children and Young People Now reports that the government has scrapped the Schools (Health Support) Bill which would have placed a legal duty on schools to support children with long term health conditions.
Marking National Asthma Awareness Week, Health Secretary Alan Johnson called for local health agencies and schools to improve management of children’s asthma.There is a new Best Practice Guide on children’s asthma in development and adult asthma will be one of the focus areas in the strategy on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease expected later this year. However, Children and Young People Now reports that the government has scrapped the Schools (Health Support) Bill which would have placed a legal duty on schools to support children with long term health conditions.
Poverty line
Figures released for 2007/8 in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series suggests the government will be hard-pressed to meet its aim to halve the number of children living in poverty by 2010, at least according to Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Figures released for 2007/8 in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series suggests the government will be hard-pressed to meet its aim to halve the number of children living in poverty by 2010, at least according to Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Progress?
The government’s verdict on its efforts in dealing with the UK’s health inequalities, as identified in the Acheson report, was published on 7 May. The paper, Tackling Health Inequalities: ten years on, covers the years between the Acheson report and the announcement last November of a strategic review lead by Professor Sir Michael Marmot. The Marmot review is expected to publish its findings early in 2010.
The government’s verdict on its efforts in dealing with the UK’s health inequalities, as identified in the Acheson report, was published on 7 May. The paper, Tackling Health Inequalities: ten years on, covers the years between the Acheson report and the announcement last November of a strategic review lead by Professor Sir Michael Marmot. The Marmot review is expected to publish its findings early in 2010.
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