01.08.14
‘This is a call to action’
Source: National Health Executive July/Aug 2014
The directors of public health in the north west have launched an ambitious ‘manifesto’ ahead of the 2015 general election. NHE spoke to the group’s co-chair, Abdul Razzaq, who is director of public health for Trafford.
A new manifesto for public health has been launched in the north west to aid policy development locally and nationally, and to inform political parties of the measures that should be in their own manifestoes ahead of next year’s election.
The document, ‘Top 10 for Number 10’, was developed by the North West Directors of Public Health Group (NWDPHG).
Its co-chair, Abdul Razzaq, said the 10 priorities were developed based on the best-available evidence.
He told NHE: “We took an evidence-based approach and thought about what would make the biggest difference to the public’s health, and provide the greatest return in terms of narrowing the health inequalities within our communities. Clearly, these are some of the major challenges of the day – they relate to alcohol, the obesity challenge, and the first 1,000 days of life. There are wider determinants too, such as debt and gambling and income inequality.
“The launch was very well received by the public health community and wider stakeholders, including politicians and a multitude of other people. The response has been very positive in that the priorities and the call to action resonate with a whole range of people.”
The 10 priorities were picked from a longlist of 40 drawn up following group discussions, wider stakeholder engagement, and a Twitter discussion in May 2014. The manifesto was launched on 1 July at the Festival of Public Health UK hosted by Manchester University.
A strong voice
The NWDPHG has been active for more than a decade, carrying on in a new form even once the old strategic health authority was abolished. It is made up of all 23 public health directors in the region. Razzaq said: “We also mirror the north west Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) footprint, so we’ve got a strong voice in what was the old NHS region.”
He added: “This is a call to action, with directors of public health taking on a public advocacy role. The manifesto publication will feed into the work of our national bodies, the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) and the Faculty of Public Health, which is more of a professional standards body. They are both producing manifestoes of their own. Our work – we are the first to do this nationally, and our work will feed into those emergent manifestoes, which are national in nature.”
Although most of the priorities are for national government, local government is able to take action too, such as by implementing the Living Wage for employees, Razzaq said – currently £7.65 an hour, or £8.80 in London, as opposed to the minimum wage of £6.31.
Razzaq admitted it will be “tough” to get the priorities implemented, but added: “We cannot ignore them, or let this chance to raise awareness with our political leaders pass us by. We really need the public, local groups and our local politicians to get behind these priorities and help us make changes needed to make a difference.”
Matthew Ashton, director of public health in Knowsley, said: “Identifying our top 10 issues and working in collaboration at the highest level to address them will help us to deliver our priority of improving the health and wellbeing of our residents. I look forward to progressing them and I am confident that this will result in a range of benefits for our local communities.”
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