The Office for National Statistics is consulting on a new measure for health in England, recognising that the nation’s health is an asset – as important to the economy and wider society as it is to the individual. The proposed health index not only measures how healthy people are today but also looks at the wider social and economic circumstances that will influence our – and the next generation’s – ability to live healthy lives in the future. Tracking these indicators over time provides the opportunity to finally look beyond GDP as a sole measure of national success.…
Read more of this article
Tag: public health
CEO update: Promoting MSK health
The incidence of MSK conditions, particularly neck and shoulder pain, has gone up during the pandemic. This represents a significant amount of pain that would not have happened without the pandemic changing the way we live and work. Which got me wondering how much of the pre-pandemic MSK conditions would have been preventable.
MSK ill-health represents many thousands of lives impacted and restricted by pain and poor mobility. However great the services we have, prevention is the better option where possible.…
Read more of this article
Stay alert to stay safe
PHE has updated their public messaging to convey the latest advice from the Government regarding coronavirus. The new posters display the key messages for the ‘Stay Alert’ phase, containing official guidance relating to social distancing in specific settings:
- At home
- Travelling to work
- At work
- Whilst exercising
- Whilst shopping
- In transport hubs (in train stations, underground stations etc.)
Other messaging includes:
- Detailed handwashing guidance
- Hand hygiene
- ‘R’ rate
Here are the latest posters and imagery designed for dissemination on Social media.…
Read more of this article
Health Matters on the benefit of physical activity
Health Matters is a Public Health England publication containing facts, resources and information on major public health issues for public health professionals, local authorities and CCG commissioners.
The edition released at the end of January 2020 focuses on physical activity for the prevention and management of long-term conditions.
Latest Productive Healthy Ageing Profile
Public Health England has published the Productive Healthy Ageing Profile data update for November 2019.
This tool provides data on a wide range of topics relevant to healthy ageing. Indicators can be examined at local, regional or national level.
The aim of this tool is to support PHE productive healthy ageing policy and inform public health leads and the wider public health system about relevant key issues.
Many indicators are also now available for the latest local authority and clinical commissioning group geographies.
Physical Activity publications
Readers of this newsletter will all be aware that physical activity is essential for musculoskeletal health. Every month we seem to report new publications on the subject. This month is no exception: two recent publications highlight the challenges and propose some solutions.
Researchers have studied adolescents’ activity levels in 146 countries and found that more than 80% are not meeting the recommended levels of activity. In the UK in 2016, more than 85% of girls were not active enough, and neither were almost 75% of boys.…
Read more of this article
ARMA, PHE and the Centre for Ageing Better
ARMA joins Public Health England and the Centre for Ageing Better to make England the best place to grow old, because musculoskeletal health is vital to healthy ageing.
ARMA joined over sixty high-profile organisations in the UK’s health, housing, employment, research and voluntary sectors to launch a landmark shared vision on healthy ageing.
There are five key principles: prioritising prevention and public health; creating opportunities for people to contribute to society as they age; fostering accessible and inclusive homes and neighbourhoods so everyone can live where they want; narrowing inequalities in healthy ageing; and challenging ageist language, culture and practices.…
Read more of this article
PHE Prescribed medicines review
In September, Public Health England published a report on their review of the scale, distribution and causes of prescription drug dependence, and what might be done to address it. This included findings on opioid use for non cancer pain. The report made recommendations for action to reduce the problems caused by dependency and stated that effective, personalised care should include shared decision-making with patients and regular reviews of whether treatment is working.
Long-term prescribing of opioids for chronic, non-cancer pain is not effective for most patients.…
Read more of this article
Moving matters
Interventions to increase physical activity
We know that keeping active is important for maintaining MSK health. The challenge is always how to encourage people to be more active. This themed review from NIHR provides some evidence about what works (and what doesn’t).
The review outlines evidence from over 50 studies of what is effective in getting people more active. Evaluations range from programmes in schools and communities to changes in transport and the environment, which are designed to promote greater activity.…
Read more of this article
PHE framework for MSK prevention published
Public Health England has published two documents related to MSK prevention. The first is a whole-system strategic framework for prevention of musculoskeletal conditions across the life-course. The purpose is to provide stakeholders and system collaborators with a clear statement of PHE, NHS England and Versus Arthritis’ commitments to promote MSK health and to prevent MSK conditions. Each collaborating organisation, including ARMA, has identified what they will be contributing, and in some cases, leading on.
The document contains information about a range of MSK prevention activities and links to resources and tools to help prevention activity.…
Read more of this article