This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/23/government-health-plans-criticised-as-missed-opportunity

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Government health plans criticised as ‘missed opportunity’ Government health plans criticised as ‘missed opportunity’
(about 1 hour later)
Doctors and health experts claim government plans to boost public health are too weak to deal with problems such as obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse that are claiming tens of thousands of lives a year.Doctors and health experts claim government plans to boost public health are too weak to deal with problems such as obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse that are claiming tens of thousands of lives a year.
The green paper on prevention of ill-health, which ministers slipped out quietly on Monday evening, includes proposals to end smoking by 2020, make food healthier and stop under-16s buying energy drinks. The green paper on prevention of ill-health in England, which ministers slipped out quietly on Monday evening, includes proposals to end smoking by 2030, make food healthier and stop under-16s buying energy drinks.
But experts criticised the package of measures as inadequate, given the number of people dying avoidably from cancer, heart attacks and strokes linked to smoking and bad diet.But experts criticised the package of measures as inadequate, given the number of people dying avoidably from cancer, heart attacks and strokes linked to smoking and bad diet.
“With health inequalities in England widening and life expectancy improvements stalling, this green paper amounts to a missed opportunity. Perhaps unsurprisingly at a time of political uncertainty, the government has stepped back from the bold action required,” said Jo Bibby, the director of health at the Health Foundation thinktank.“With health inequalities in England widening and life expectancy improvements stalling, this green paper amounts to a missed opportunity. Perhaps unsurprisingly at a time of political uncertainty, the government has stepped back from the bold action required,” said Jo Bibby, the director of health at the Health Foundation thinktank.
“Overall the paper falls a long way short of the comprehensive shift in approach needed to create healthier lives for people in England.”“Overall the paper falls a long way short of the comprehensive shift in approach needed to create healthier lives for people in England.”
The document outlines an ambition for everyone in England to have gained five extra years of healthy life expectancy – free of disease or disability – by 2035. However, Bibby warned that without much tougher government action to tackle the underlying causes of so much ill-health “it could take as long as 75 years – not 16 – to reach this goal”.The document outlines an ambition for everyone in England to have gained five extra years of healthy life expectancy – free of disease or disability – by 2035. However, Bibby warned that without much tougher government action to tackle the underlying causes of so much ill-health “it could take as long as 75 years – not 16 – to reach this goal”.
In the House of Commons, Labour accused Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, of “kicking [the green paper] into the long grass” by telling Theresa May it should not have been published so close to her stepping down. The prime minister insisted it was put out.In the House of Commons, Labour accused Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, of “kicking [the green paper] into the long grass” by telling Theresa May it should not have been published so close to her stepping down. The prime minister insisted it was put out.
However, it only appeared on the gov.uk website early on Monday evening, and – unusually – with no attempt made to alert the media.However, it only appeared on the gov.uk website early on Monday evening, and – unusually – with no attempt made to alert the media.
“A year ago the secretary of state said, to great fanfare, that prevention was one of his priorities. Now the prevention green paper has been sneaked out in the night on the Cabinet Office website,” Ashworth said.“A year ago the secretary of state said, to great fanfare, that prevention was one of his priorities. Now the prevention green paper has been sneaked out in the night on the Cabinet Office website,” Ashworth said.
“Is it not the truth that he has buckled under pressure from the sugar industry, is not taking on the alcohol industry, and is not taking on the tobacco industry? That is more about trying to get in with the new prime minister than putting the health needs of the nation first,” he added.“Is it not the truth that he has buckled under pressure from the sugar industry, is not taking on the alcohol industry, and is not taking on the tobacco industry? That is more about trying to get in with the new prime minister than putting the health needs of the nation first,” he added.
Hancock replied that Dame Prof Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, was reviewing the evidence on what policies help to counteract obesity and would report later this year.Hancock replied that Dame Prof Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, was reviewing the evidence on what policies help to counteract obesity and would report later this year.
The green paper also proposes that the sugar tax on soft drinks could be extended to sugary milk drinks and suggests ways to cut salt consumption.The green paper also proposes that the sugar tax on soft drinks could be extended to sugary milk drinks and suggests ways to cut salt consumption.
Prof Andrew Goddard, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, lamented its “dearth of imagination” and reliance on individuals taking action to improve their health.Prof Andrew Goddard, the president of the Royal College of Physicians, lamented its “dearth of imagination” and reliance on individuals taking action to improve their health.
“Perhaps the biggest omission is a clear understanding of the link between poverty and ill-health. While individuals have a responsibility to look after themselves, there is something about the way our society is structured that produces that imbalance,” he added.“Perhaps the biggest omission is a clear understanding of the link between poverty and ill-health. While individuals have a responsibility to look after themselves, there is something about the way our society is structured that produces that imbalance,” he added.
The British Medical Association said the paper should have included plans to introduce minimum unit pricing of alcohol and legally binding limits on air pollution.The British Medical Association said the paper should have included plans to introduce minimum unit pricing of alcohol and legally binding limits on air pollution.
David Buck, a public health expert at the King’s Fund, criticised the “shabby way” the green paper emerged. “The paper is a missed opportunity to build on the success of the sugar tax by taking a bolder approach to using tax and regulation to improve public health,” he said.David Buck, a public health expert at the King’s Fund, criticised the “shabby way” the green paper emerged. “The paper is a missed opportunity to build on the success of the sugar tax by taking a bolder approach to using tax and regulation to improve public health,” he said.
The Royal Society for Public Health welcomed the document’s “ambitious goals”. But it urged ministers to embrace more radical public health policies such as mandatory targets for the removal of salt from food and an end to years of Whitehall cuts to local councils’ public health budgets.The Royal Society for Public Health welcomed the document’s “ambitious goals”. But it urged ministers to embrace more radical public health policies such as mandatory targets for the removal of salt from food and an end to years of Whitehall cuts to local councils’ public health budgets.
Seema Kennedy, a health minister, said the government’s plans would help the NHS change from being a treatment-based service to “a national wellness service”, more focused on prevention of illness.Seema Kennedy, a health minister, said the government’s plans would help the NHS change from being a treatment-based service to “a national wellness service”, more focused on prevention of illness.
However, it is unclear whether the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, will act on the paper’s proposals given his opposition to extending the sugar tax and general hostility to more interventionist measures to improve public health.However, it is unclear whether the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, will act on the paper’s proposals given his opposition to extending the sugar tax and general hostility to more interventionist measures to improve public health.
HealthHealth
ObesityObesity
SugarSugar
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content