White Paper seen as “a step in the right direction”
The recent public health White Paper was generally well received |
Several charities and public health bodies have expressed disappointment that the proposed
ban on smoking in public places in England will not be a complete one (PJ, 20 November, p733). Yet, the Government’s
White Paper on public health for England has generally been well received
by pharmacy bodies.
The public health charity Pharmacy-HealthLink has described the paper
as “a step in the right direction
to help improve the public’s health”.
It says that although it disagrees with the Health Secretary’s
approach to smoke-free places, the White Paper offers a real opportunity
for pharmacists to work in partnership with other health care professionals
to provide a fully integrated public health service.
The content of this White Paper is
expected to inform the consortium
commissioned to produce the draft pharmaceutical public health strategy.
Miriam Armstrong, chief executive of PharmacyHealthLink, said that it
will help to “build on the momentum and focus on the five main
sections of the strategy”.
John D’Arcy, chief executive of the National Pharmaceutical Association,
pointed out that although the White Paper does not contain great detail
about the next steps for pharmacists it must be seen as an overarching
plan that will be built on over time.
“
This is a strategic paper that must be looked at in the context of other
initiatives such as the pharmaceutical public health framework expected
next year, and the new pharmacy contract,” he told The Journal.
Mr D’Arcy added that public health cannot be tackled properly without
the involvement of community pharmacists, who have regular contact with
customers who do not consider themselves to be ill, as well as having
expertise and approachability and being
positioned in the centre of communities.
The Proprietary Association of Great Britain has declared its support
for the
recognition within the White Paper of the importance of partnerships
between local government, NHS and community
organisations.
“For PAGB, the White Paper represents a myriad of opportunities
for pharmacists to work in partnership with primary care trusts and be
recognised as
being one of the key providers of health management and
advice in the community,” a PAGB spokesman said.
He added: “Although it is not entirely clear how the government
will ensure these partnerships occur, the important point for pharmacists
at this stage is that their role in public health is being recognised.”
Public health pilots The
first areas that will receive Department of Health funding for
initiatives such as health trainers, and improved
smoking cessation services, as outlined in the public health White
Paper, were announced this week. Health Secretary John Reid named
88 primary care trusts covering 70 local authority areas that have
been identified as being most in need of these services, based
on information on mortality from cancer and heart disease, deprivation
and life expectancy. The list can be accessed here
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