Home Healthy Lives, Healthy People
The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, published the Government's public health White Paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England, on 30th November 2010. The document sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of public health in England, and outlines plans which will transform public health and for the first time create a ‘wellness' service - Public Health England - to meet today's wide ranging health challenges.
The Government's view is that society, government and individuals share collective responsibility for public health and the new public health system will encourage all to play their part in improving and protecting the nation's health and well-being.
The White Paper's recognises pharmacy's role in improving public health and the vital part they play in preventing ill health. The document states that ‘community pharmacies are a valuable and trusted public health resource' and identifies the potential to use pharmacy teams more effectively to improve health and wellbeing and to reduce health inequalities. Pharmacists are also explicitly recognised in the White Paper as part of a wider public health professional network.
Opportunities for community pharmacy are highlighted and include NHS Health Checks, LTC management, tackling drug and alcohol abuse, prevention of long term illness (stop smoking and obesity services) and increasing uptake of seasonal flu vaccination.
PSNC has taken every opportunity to highlight pharmacy's capacity in public health, including a programme of public health events at this year's party conferences, and in its submission to the Department's White Paper working group.
Comment on the White Paper
Andrew Lansley said:
"Too often in the past, public health budgets have been raided by the NHS to tackle deficits. Not any more. The money will be ringfenced to be used as it should be - for preventing ill health.
"People's health and wellbeing will be at the heart of everything local councils do. It's nonsense to think that health can be tackled on its own. Directors of Public Health will be able to champion local cooperation so that health issues are considered alongside housing, transport, and education.
"Everyone should have services tailored for them, at the right times in their life from the professionals closest to them. With local authorities in the driving seat, supported by the latest evidence on behaviour change from Public Health England, we will start seeing significant improvements in the nation's health."
PSNC Chief Executive Sue Sharpe said:
"We welcome the White Paper's recognition of pharmacy's role in improving public health. PSNC has taken every opportunity to highlight pharmacy's capacity in this area, including our programme of public health events at this year's party conferences, and our submission to the Department's White Paper working group.
"From sexual health screening to stop-smoking support, pharmacies across the country are already providing public health services that are both cost effective and highly accessible. Because they can provide these services in a discreet but informal setting without the need for an appointment, they are ideally placed to attract "hard-to-reach" groups that rarely come into contact with other health professionals - making them a key asset in reducing entrenched health inequalities in complex and diverse communities.
"Pharmacy is specifically mentioned in many places in the white paper as having a role, including in health screening and delivery of services commissioned locally. We need to use this opportunity. The government acknowledges pharmacy's ability to empower communities across Britain, and the challenge for us, and for all pharmacies, is to translate this into action.
"Where pharmacies can provide services of benefit in all areas these should be incorporated into the national contract, and we are very pleased that the NHS Commissioning Board will have a role in commissioning public health.
"With a solid base in the national contract we can get on with letting commissioners and providers innovate locally - designing pharmacy public health services that follow a national lead but fit the specific needs of local communities.
"PSNC will continue to develop community pharmacy's role in this vital field as the policy develops in the coming months , building alliances to further our aim of making the community pharmacy the local hub for public health".
Resources and links
A PSNC summary of the White Paper has been prepared for LPCs and pharmacy contractors.
A PSNC PowerPoint presentation has been prepared for use at LPC meetings.
The White Paper can be downloaded in full, alongside supporting documents at www.dh.gov.uk/healthypeople.
PSNC has prepared a resource for LPCs to use when discussing public health services with commissioners. To download a copy of the resource click here.
PSNC response to the White Paper
White Paper Consultation documents
The Government has published a number of consultation documents following the White Paper:
1) Healthy Lives, Healthy People: transparency in outcomes, proposals for a public health outcomes framework (20th December 2010)
This consultation document explores options for a public health outcomes framework.
A PSNC summary of the consultation document has been prepared for LPCs and pharmacy contractors.
PSNC's response to the consultation
2) Healthy lives, healthy people: consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health (21st December 2010)
This consultation explores the proposed funding and commissioning routes for public health, including the ring-fenced budget provided to local authorities.
A PSNC summary of the consultation document has been prepared for LPCs and pharmacy contractors.
PSNC's response to the consultation