Data on England's public health reveal challenges
A document setting out the Government's approach to improving public health in England was published earlier this week along with a report of detailed
data on the nation's health, as recorded in 2004.
Pharmacy’s contribution
“Health challenge England” highlights examples of
services provided through pharmacies. These include Boots’s “Change
one thing” campaign. Also cited are services provided from
Green Light Pharmacy in London. The pharmacy runs health education
sessions to the Bangladeshi and wider communities. A public health
assistant, funded by the primary care trust, conducts healthy
lifestyle assessments and motivational counselling. |
“Health
challenge England — next steps for choosing health” sets
out public health achievements since 2004, including examples of pharmacy’s
contribution (see Panel right).
Launching the reports, public health minister Caroline Flint said: “We
have begun to build up a clear idea of what works to improve the health
in those areas of the country that face the most serious problems.” She
added that the Government’s initial focus will be on obesity.
The Government expects the 2004 health data to be a resource for commissioners
and those in a position to exert influence over commissioning.
Miriam Armstrong, chief executive of PharmacyHealthLink, commented: “While
acknowledging that support and action from all levels of society is key
to bringing about sustainable social change, for example, in healthy
eating patterns and choices, pharmacists and their staff can play a key
role in helping people make the right choices now through helping them
understand their personal risk. To do this effectively, pharmacists need
access to up-to-date health advice, to tailor this advice to different
social groups and to provide services that are genuinely going to help
people assess their risk.”
She suggested that locally agreed procedures and protocols with primary
care trusts would be needed to provide certain services, such as blood
pressure monitoring and cholesterol testing. “The enhanced service
level of the new contract already allows this to happen, and we hope
that PCTs will make more use of it to achieve their public health aims.” |
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