Public Health Forum
Department of Health Standardised packaging of tobacco products consultation
The Department of Health is consulting across the four countries of the UK on whether there might be public health benefits from the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging (otherwise known as plain packaging). You can download the consultation document here.
The RCN will be responding to this consultation and we welcome your views and input to shape the RCN response. We would be grateful for comments from RCN members by 10 June 2012, please could you send your comments to emily.pollinger@rcn.org.uk.
The RCN is a supporter of the Plain Packs Protect Partnership campaign
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:
“Every day nurses see the serious health consequences of tobacco, and the RCN has consistently campaigned for initiatives to reduce the number of people who smoke. However, smoking remains the major cause of premature death and disease killing over 100,000 people each year. Crucially, we now need more robust ideas to stop young people smoking in the first place, such as clamping down on the use of tobacco packaging as advertising. This is why we support the campaign for plain standardised packaging.”
Department of Health workforce strategy consultation
The Department of Health is consulting on a draft workforce strategy for the public health system and you can download the document here (PDF 452KB)
The RCN will be responding on behalf of the public health nursing workforce and we welcome your views and input to shape the RCN response.
We would be grateful for comments from RCN members by 11 June 2012, please could you send your comments to Samantha.manners@rcn.org.uk
Going Upstream: nursing’s contribution to public health
The RCN publication “Going Upstream: nursing’s contribution to public health” was launched at the RCN’s first Public Health conference on 17 February 2012.
Sandra Grieve , Chair of the RCN Public Health forum said in her opening speech:
“This document is the fruition of a year of hard work from the RCN and its membership. The document sets the public health scene in the UK and describes the key public health challenges in the four UK countries. It provides a framework for upstream nursing , identifying the core ingredients and principles that underpin the contribution of nurses to better public health outcomes. Most importantly, it also includes good practice examples that were provided by RCN members, showcasing the innovative practices of public health nurses.“
You can download the document here (PDF 342KB) (see how to access PDF files)
Tuberculosis case management and cohort review: Guidance for health professionals
This practical guidance is an invaluable compendium of evidence-based best practice for nurses and social care professionals who case manage patients with suspected and confirmed tuberculosis (TB).
You can download the document here (PDF 1.7MB)
The RCN’s UK position on school nursing
This publication details the RCN’s position for school nursing across the UK and provides details on the context for reform throughout all four nations. It also provides information on the College’s position on the development of the school nursing workforce.
You can download this document here (PDF 240KB)
Health Visiting discussion paper
The RCN produced a discussion paper (PDF 183KB) on the definition and direction of travel for health visiting and sought the views of the membership in Autumn 2011. Please see our summary of the responses (PDF 14KB).
Proposed changes to public health in England
Changes to the funding, commissioning and delivery of public health services in England have been proposed by the Government in the White Paper Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England.
The RCN has been promoting the role of nursing in discussions at every stage of the consultation process.
2012
In January 2012, the Department of Health published the public health outcomes framework with indicators across the four domains of improving the wider determinants of health, health improvement, health protection, healthcare public health and preventing premature mortality.
2011
The chronology of developments in 2011 can be found here
In December 2011, the Department of Health published documents detailing the role and responsibilities of local government in public health, the operating model for the new executive agency Public Health England and an overview of how the whole system will work. To download factsheets from the DH website, please go here
You can read the RCN’s press release here
Read Jan Maw’s message appearing on the blog of the Faculty of Public Health “Better Health for All” here, together with contributions from other key public health stakeholders.
2010
In November 2010, the Government launched Healthy lives, healthy people White Paper: Our strategy for public health in England. This White Paper sets out the Government’s long-term vision for the future of public health in England.
The Executive Summary of the RCN response to the public health White Paper can be found here (PDF 76KB)
The RCN response to the public health White Paper can be found here (PDF 284KB)
The RCN briefing on the public health White Paper can be found here (PDF 136KB)
The RCN launched an extensive consultation exercise with members including a podcast a webcast, and a survey