The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7294 p435
10 April 2004

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Task groups set up to advise on public health

Eight task groups have been appointed in England to advise the Government on steps that can be taken to improve public health. LloydsPharmacy’s superintendent pharmacist Andy Murdock is a member of the task group on working with, and for, communities. Mr Murdock is one of a relatively small number of health professionals involved. He will sit with members of consumer groups, local authority representatives, academics and people from commercial backgrounds.

The eight task groups — covering health for young people, health and opportunities in employment, consumers and markets, leisure, the contribution of primary care, the contribution of the NHS, working with communities, and focusing on delivery — are to make recommendations to the Health Secretary on action that can be taken by the Government, employers, industry, the NHS, schools, communities and individuals to help maximise the potential for improving people’s health.

The work of the task groups is to sit alongside the public consultation on health that started early in March. Health Secretary John Reid said: “The task groups provide one very important strand of advice by bringing together a mix of stakeholders with different expertise and backgrounds.”

A White Paper on health improvement is to be published in the summer.