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The Future of Public Health in England
Public health in England has been subjected to huge reforms over the last five years. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 created Public Health England with a mission ‘to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities.’ This legislation abolished the Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts and placed public health responsibilities in the hands of local councils.
“We know we need a completely new approach to public health and preventable diseases. A real focus on healthy living. That’s why it’s at the heart of the plan”. - David Cameron, May 2015
Overview
Speakers | |
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Professor Eileen Fairhurst | Professor in Public Health, Salford University (Chair) |
Melanie Sirotkin | Centre Director (North West) for Public Health England |
Professor Selena Gray | Professor of Public Health, University of West England |
Abdul Razzaq | Director of Public Health, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |
David Buck | Senior Fellow, Public Health and Health Inequalities – The King’s Fund |
Dominic Harrison | Director of Public Health Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council |
David Herne | Director of Public Health Salford |
Councillor Lisa Stone | Assistant Mayor of Salford City Council |
Alison Farrar | Public Health Workforce Manager, Health Education North West |
Wendy Meredith | Director of Public Health Bolton and Greater Manchester’s, Director of Population Health Transformation |
Val Andrews | Director, Health Development Consultancy |
The transformation of public health in England has not been without its critics. There have been accusations that the transfer of responsibility for the improvement of public health to local authorities has in some areas led to public health funding dropping below an acceptable level, resulting in local councils having to make difficult choices about where limited resources are allocated.
Delegates at The Future of Public Health in England conference will gain a comprehensive overview, from experienced public health experts and those most affected by the changes to public health in England, of the far reaching influence of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Delegates will also gain insights into the impact the Act is likely to have on the future of public health.
Undoubtedly chronic diseases are the main cause of death and disability in England, yet the main risk factors are largely preventable. Addressing these risk factors is an efficient use of public money. Indeed, the economic case for investing in health promotion and prevention has never been greater.
The conference will cover some of the ‘wicked issues’ in public health, such as obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse. To date a mainstay of the government’s public health policy in England has been the voluntary “responsibility deal” with industry, in the face of strong scepticism that “pledges” (e.g. to “enable customers to eat and drink fewer calories”) will have a meaningful impact. Meanwhile, Public Health England (PHE), pledges to “support local authorities to deliver whole system approaches to tackle obesity, including through supporting healthier and more sustainable food procurement” and “use alcohol as the trailblazer for a new whole system approach that establishes what works and is clear on the return on investment, enabling government, local authorities and the NHS to invest with confidence in evidence based policies, prevention and treatment interventions”
PHE sees place-based approaches under the leadership of local authorities, working with clinical commissioning groups and professional bodies as a ‘game changer’ in terms of an opportunity to deliver public health, along with redefining our approach to improving health through the application of the concept of wellness.
The conference will consider potential ways of moving the public health agenda forwards, including exploring how to create a social movement for change, and the role that local authorities play in the development of public health practices. The conference is set in Salford, part of Greater Manchester, the major new front in the English devolution debate. Known as ‘Devo Manc’, this is the initiative to create a ‘northern powerhouse’. Arguably the most exciting development in Public Health is taking place here in Greater Manchester, where there are ground-breaking plans around the future of health and social care with a signed memorandum agreeing to bring together health and social care budgets – a combined sum of £6bn.
The Commission on the Future of Health and Social Care in England showed that the case for a single health and social care budget is compelling but only if sufficient funding is provided. However, as pointed out by Simon Stevens (NHS Chief Executive) “no-one should pretend that just combining two financially leaky buckets will magically create a watertight funding solution – it’s going to take more than that.” Much will now hinge on the ability of council leaders to hold together when difficult decisions have to be made about the future of public services.
“Greater Manchester now has a unique opportunity for innovation and improvement in health and wellbeing. The eyes of the country will now be on what this new partnership can deliver,” Simon Stevens—NHS Chief Executive.
Agenda
09:00 | Registration, Refreshments and Exhibition |
10:00 | Opening Remarks from Chair Eileen Fairhurst, Professor in Public Health, University of Salford |
10:10 | Professor Melanie Sirotkin, North West Director, Public Health The public health landscape – opportunities and challenges |
10:30 | Questions and Answers |
10:40 | Wendy Meredith, Greater Manchester Director of Population Health Transformation Health Transformation in the Northern Powerhouse |
11:00 | Questions and Answers |
11:10 | Refreshments & Networking |
11:30 | David Herne, Director of Public Health Salford & Councillor Lisa Stone, Assistant Mayor of Salford City Council Health in local government |
11:50 | Questions and Answers |
12:00 | Abdul Razzaq, Director of Public Health, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council Beyond Social: Health IoT |
12:20 | Questions and Answers |
12:30 | Alison Farrar,Public Health Workforce Manager, Health Education North West Rethinking the Public Health Workforce |
12:50 | Questions and Answers |
13:00 | Lunch and Networking |
13:45 | David Buck, Senior Fellow, Public Health and Health Inequalities – The King’s Fund Recent and future policy on public health and health inequalities: A view from the King’s Fund |
14:05 | Questions and Answers |
14:15 | Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council The need for an authoritative voice in public health |
2:35 | Questions and Answers |
2:45 | Refreshments & Networking |
15:05 | Professor Selena Gray, Professor of Public Health, University of West England Public Health: achievements and future challenges |
15:35 | Questions and Answers |
15:45 | Karan Thomas, Lead Consultant, Health Development Consultancy Making Every Contact Count – Time for a rethink? |
16:05 | Questions and Answers |
16:15 | Conference Close from Chair Eileen Fairhurst, Professor in Public Health, University of Salford |
16:20 | Conference Close |
All dates
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Learning outcomes
- The public health landscape and implications for public health since the Health and Social Care Act 2013
- The need for a national authoritative national voice on public health
- The capacity for an integrated care system to deliver public health
- Potential ways of moving the public health agenda forward
- How to crease a social movement for change
- Member officers perspectives on public health in Local Government
Who should attend?
Directors of Public Health, Heads of Public Engagement, Directors of Commissioning, Directors of Purchasing, Directors of Drug and Alcohol Services, Heads of Commissioning, GPs, Directors of Facilities Management, Directors of Providers Services, Directors of Perinatal/Antenatal Services, Heads of National/Regional Public Health Groups, Service Directors for Sexual Health, Heads of Treatment and Prevention, Health and Wellbeing Managers/Directors, Directors of Strategic Development.
Health Promotion Professionals, Heads of Nutrition, Health Inequalities Policy Officers, Heads of Health Life Sciences, Heads of Healthy Eating, Care Service Managers, Public Health Managers, Medical Officers and Health Commissioners.
Mental Health Professionals, National Directors for Health and Work, Health and Social Care Professionals, Care Workers, Public Health Administrators, Customer Focus Directors and all those interested in creating a healthier society from the NHS, Local Authorities and the private sector.