Lindsey Davies: Q&A - Royal College of Physicians

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President’s message Comment Write to us... Respond to any of the articles featured or share your views on RCP matters. Email us at: letters.commentary@rcplondon.ac.uk All eyes on public health ‘This is an extremely important issue, and I am sure that you, like me, are frustrated at the seemingly inexorable rising tide of hospital admissions related to alcohol, tobacco, obesity and other public health harms’ Not a day goes by without major developments and changes in the proposed NHS reforms. Since I last wrote in Commentary, the landscape has changed considerably, and we are now part way through an unprecedented pause in the Health and Social Care Bill to allow for the government’s ‘listening exercise’. The coalition’s ears on the ground materialised in the form of 44 health professionals brought together under the moniker of the ‘NHS Future Forum’. Professor Steve Field FRCP is chairing the Forum, and Kathy McClean FRCP is the Forum’s lead for clinical advice and leadership. In addition to submitting a written response to the Forum, we have welcomed both Steve and Kathy to a meeting at the RCP, while Forum representative and community pharmacist, Ash Soni, recently attended our West Midlands regional update. We put some of your questions about the reforms to Professor Steve Field and his responses can be read in the online Commentary Community: www.rcplondon.ac.uk/ commentary. As with so many areas of healthcare, it is clear in my mind that integration is key. As well as calling for the involvement of hospital clinicians in commissioning decisions, I strongly believe that public health experts must have a voice in how services are commissioned. The RCP has also recommended that secondary care specialists become a mandatory part Has the government put all of its eggs in the nudge theory basket, and shied away from regulation to persuade the public that the healthy option is the best option Page 16 of local authority Health and Wellbeing Boards, and specifically involved in setting local priorities and in commenting on the extent to which consortia have reflected these priorities. In this issue of Commentary there is a focus on public health, and what the future holds for its provision. This is an extremely important issue, and I am sure that you, like me, are frustrated at the seemingly inexorable rising tide of hospital admissions related to alcohol, tobacco, obesity and other public health harms. If we are to ‘As well as calling for the involvement of hospital clinicians in commissioning decisions, I strongly believe that public health experts must have a voice in how services are commissioned’ reduce healthcare costs in the future, we must improve the health of the nation – already the benefits of less smoking are showing through. In addition to the proposed new public health structure, the reforms have introduced an entirely new approach to tackling public health. The government has put all of its eggs in the nudge theory basket, and in doing so has shied away from regulation in favour of gently persuading the public that the healthy option is the best option. You can read what health experts really think to the efficacy of this new approach of less regulation and more behavioural insight on page 16. I appreciate that public health legislation may lead to headline-grabbing accusations of a ‘nanny state’, but I am unconvinced of the merits of ‘nudge’. As I said in a letter to Andrew Lansley, all improvements in public health, from John Snow and the Clean Air Act to the recent smoking legislation, have been achieved by legislation. For this reason, we and five other organisations decided not to sign up to the government’s responsibility deal – it could have done so much more! n Sir Richard Thompson President Read more... Three expert views on public health; p14 Commentary asks the views of three experts – a public health doctor, a GP and a consultant – about the future of public health. You can read the full report online at Commentary Community and comment on their opinions: www.rcplondon.ac.uk/commentary 4 Commentary n June 2011 n www.rcplondon.ac.uk
News Comment Write to us... Respond to any of the articles featured or share your views on RCP matters. Email us at: letters.commentary@rcplondon.ac.uk News&views www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news RCP Lords’ Lunch President Sir Richard Thompson says quality should be at the heart of the Health Bill The RCP hosted its annual Lords’ Lunch on 1 April with guests including Baroness Northover, the government whip on the Health Bill, Baroness Thornton, opposition spokesperson on health, and Lord Turnberg, a former president of the RCP. Over 20 fellows and members discussed with RCP officers and staff current health policy issues affecting the RCP. First on the agenda were the government’s reforms to the health service in England. Sir Richard Thompson, RCP president, outlined the changes the RCP wants to the Bill: to put quality at its heart, to ensure secondary care clinicians are involved in commissioning, and to prevent fragmentation while ensuring integration. Dr Andrew Goddard, RCP medical workforce director, presented data on workforce and the government’s proposed reforms to medical education and training. Baroness Thornton later blogged: ‘On Friday a group of Peers, from across the House, had lunch with the Royal College of Physicians. I was particularly struck by the problems of workforce recruitment and training. If it takes 15 years to produce the best consultants how will that be achieved with the fragmentation of the Health Service that this legislation brings’ The RCP is continuing to work with these peers to positively influence government policy making. n Image©Shutterstock The RCP wants the Health Bill to be amended to ensure an integrated health service without fragmentation Get involved with the RCP’s plans for the London 2012 Olympic Games Image©Shutterstock London 2012 at RCP Get involved with the London 2012 Olympic Games at the RCP The RCP is planning a series of events to coincide with the London 2012 Olympics. We are asking fellows and members with a connection to the games or elite sports to get in touch to discuss ideas and see how you can get involved. In addition to a planned exhibition on human anatomy, suggestions have included a public walking or cycling tour between medical museums, an Olympic-themed open day, and a performance-enhancing drugs tour of the RCP Medicinal Garden. If you would like to get involved with the RCP’s Olympic plans or put forward an idea for an event, please get in touch at: policy@rcplondon.ac.uk. n www.rcplondon.ac.uk n June 2011 n Commentary 5
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Lindsey Davies: Q&A - Royal College of Physicians

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