ADPH responds to Sir Keir Starmer’s speech on health
Banning adverts for junk food and vaping is of course a good idea, but a whole package of measures needs to be introduced to tackle the underlying causes of preventable ill-health. This will take long-term, bold thinking and consistently higher levels of public health funding. It can also only be achieved by putting health at the heart of all policy decisions, not just those obviously associated with health.
The Association of Directors of Public Health have been long-term advocates for preventing illness before people ever require treatment and Directors of Public Health work with a wide range of partners locally to do just that.
Last week, we published our Manifesto for a Healthier Nation, which details our recommendations for the next Government to be able to build on these collaborative partnerships to learn from – and replicate – the successful work that is being done locally, on a national level.
Banning adverts for junk food and vaping is of course a good idea, but a whole package of measures needs to be introduced to tackle the underlying causes of preventable ill-health. This will take long-term, bold thinking and consistently higher levels of public health funding. It can also only be achieved by putting health at the heart of all policy decisions, not just those obviously associated with health.
Only then, will we be able to reduce the unacceptably high level of health inequalities in the UK and improve everyone’s health and wellbeing, so that we can all live longer, healthier lives.