ADPH response to new report into NHS

Lord Darzi’s investigation of the NHS in England has highlighted the severity of the situation facing some of the most vulnerable members of our society, pointing to the unacceptable difference in outcomes for people living in the poorest communities.

While the report is mainly focussed on the role of the NHS, there is a welcome recognition that more needs to be done to support people in the community, as well as to prevent people from ever needing treatment.

The importance of these primary and secondary prevention methods must not be underestimated, and the role that Directors of Public Health (DsPH) and their teams have in promoting and protecting good health and wellbeing are a vital part of the solution.

Greg Fell, ADPH President, said:

“As the report says, ‘everybody knows that prevention is better than cure’ and that’s the case not just for people’s health, but also for the NHS, and the wider economy. Clearly there needs to be action to improve the situation faced by patients now, but we also need to move away from concentrating on reform to acute care, to instead focussing on primary and community care, and prevention.”

The report also highlights the repeated cuts to the public health grant, which funds a range of preventative measures.

Fell continued:

“Funding and resources are needed to create a healthier environment, where the building blocks of good health like good education, good jobs, access to healthy food and drink, and access to open spaces and affordable leisure options are available for everyone, regardless of their background or financial status.

“The NHS is not – and should not be held – responsible for these wider determinants of health. Instead, more should be done to adequately resource existing public health networks so that our communities are more able to support people and prevent such high levels of demand for NHS treatment.”

ADPH will continue to advocate for a health in all policies approach and provide the local public health perspective to the Government as it moves forward in shaping its response to Lord Darzi’s investigation. Only by working together, across all political parties and sectors, can we meet the ambitious, but very necessary, target of shifting from treatment to prevention, and supporting people to live healthier lives for longer.