Public health: policy and reports - Wales
Introduction
The overarching aim of Public Health Wales is to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales. Public Health Wales has made a commitment to seven strategic objectives in its five year strategy published in 2010.
The objectives were informed by health improvement policies and strategies. In particular, Our healthy future, published in 2009, sets the foundations for the Welsh Government's ambitions for public health up to 2020. It lists six areas for action areas and ten priority outcomes with the overall aim to achieve improved quality and length of life and fairer outcomes for all.
Public Health Wales provides public health support to the local authorities and seven health boards in Wales.
For further information see the policies below. See also agencies and topics.
Policy and reports
The following section includes key strategic documents and related reports which shape the public health agenda - most recent first.
These resources were last accessed on 19 April 2013. Some of them are in PDF format - see How to access PDF files.
Chief Medical Officer’s annual reports
The Chief Medical Officer’s annual report provides 'an opportunity to reflect on the major health and health care issues that we face, and to maintain a transparent dialogue with the public and policy makers about public health'.
Public Health Wales: Public Health Wales strategy 2010-2015
This two page document sets out the ambition, purpose, values and strategic objectives of Public Health Wales for the next five years. Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales. The document presents seven strategic objectives and eight ways in which these objectives will be achieved. The next task will be to develop detailed work plans to underpin each of the seven strategic objectives.
Fairer health outcomes for all: reducing inequities in health strategic action plan 2011
This document provides an action plan for one of the key actions in Our healthy future, reducing inequities in health.
Our healthy future (2009)
This report sets the strategic direction for public health in Wales to the year 2020. The two broad aims of the strategy are: "to improve quality and length of life" and "to promote good health on equal terms for everyone in Wales". The six action areas identified are intended to provide a thematic structure for thinking, planning and joined-up working. This area of the Welsh Assembly Government's website provides further information on the 'Our healthy future' agenda and work in progress. A report on progress made in the first year of implementation has been published at Our healthy future annual progress report: October 2009 - October 2010.
Creating an active Wales (2009)
This document from the Welsh Assembly Government sets out a physical activity action plan for Wales. It presents the aims and targets and the actions required to achieve these aims. Underpinning themes which need to be addressed if the strategic aims are to be achieved are described along with a timetable of actions to support each of these themes.
Food and Fitness: promoting healthy eating and physical activity for children and young people in Wales. Five-year implementation plan (2006)
This implementation plan from the Welsh Assembly Government builds on a range of national strategies, initiatives and local programmes and provides a framework for integrating action on nutrition and physical activity for children and young people in Wales. It sets out a series of action plans for schools, in the community, for training, and for evaluation and dissemination under three headings 'What are we going to do?' 'Who?' and 'What and When?'. The report is made available on the Physical Activity and Nutrition Networks Wales website.
Shaping the future of public health: promoting health in the NHS (2005) (PDF 518KB)
Jointly commissioned by the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government, this defines the roles, functions and development needs of the multidisciplinary Public Health Workforce required for the delivery of 'Choosing health' in England and 'Health Challenge Wales'.