Move More – a whole system approach to physical activity

    Short blog setting out the structure and rationale behind our approach to physical activity. Thanks to Anna Lowe for helpful comments   Strategy. We set out to be the most active City by 2020. The mission and vision are clear, as are the main building blocks are clear. These are set out in […]

Prevention Green Paper. A response

I wasn’t going to blog this, but have been persuaded to.   thoughts by way of response to the consolation document on “Prevention” brief note format   A lot that is good, some amendments in tone and focus could make it even better   For me 5 key messages Disproportionate coverage to individual solutions   […]

Implementing well being into all policies. Hopes for the prevention green paper

I was recently asked whether govts are doing enough on wellbeing and wellness, and my hopes for the prevention green paper. I’ve blogged in this space before. Ten short points illustrating my hopes 1 Focus on PLACES. Not silo responses by institution, or service by service. 2 avoid a response rooted individual behaviour change (often […]

Prevention and the green paper

Prevention and the green paper All of a sudden prevention is back in vogue. There’s going to be a Green Paper. Hurrah. I’ve written a lot on prevention in an health context already. Note I mention health not NHS there, deliberately. Firstly on the Secretary of State’s vision Prevention is better than cure and the […]

Planning and healthy cities. Volume 2

Caveat I cant speak the language of planning. Nor to I have anything like anything other than a rudimentary understanding of the systems or the law in this space. Here are some cliff notes on why planning is so very important for our health. “Health” people (aka NHS or indeed public health professionals aren’t the […]

Population health, population health care, population managemen

More than 30 years ago Rose set out the importance of focusing on population factors and not just individuals. We’ve not really made good on the hypothesis yet. Population health is still all the rage, if not properly defined. I’ve had a few gos at defining. Firstly trying to distinguish “public health” and “population health”. […]

Health optimisation as a strategy for financial saving

I’m distinguishing the financial from clinical benefit here, and mandatory threshold policies and system and pathway to support type approach to implementation. For those short on patience – it’s a poor strategy for financial saving, it may exacerbate inequalities, it’s a good idea health gain wise. I’ve been here a few times historically on smoking […]

Children, healthy ageing and the opportunity in the transformation of health and social care.

I read this amazing blog last week, partly focused on on the marginalisation of the children’s agenda in the STP landscape. Building communities with resilient children at their hearts | The Nuffield Trust https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/building-communities-with-resilient-children-at-their-hearts …….Powerful words by Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green argues that the UK now needs a long-term, coherent, cross-party ideology and overarching policies that […]

Ageing population lazy thinking for when you cant be bothered to understand the real issues

By me and Steve Laitner I’ve (GF)  blogged a lot on the myth that is the “demographic timebomb”, and set out a set of data and arguments to make up case argument wise. See references at the bottom.    Here are our collected summary thoughts on why getting the narrative wrong on this is harmful […]

Improving the determinants of health and well being

I was once asked “why local government didn’t take the determinants of health seriously“. After I’d picked my jaw from the floor, I had think of an erudite answer. I won’t revise or review my answer further.  Health policy is mostly focused (in the minds of the public) on the NHS. The Health Foundation published […]