Conference Declaration 2009

At this year's Annual Public Health Forum, the UKPHA Special and Strategic Interest Groups devised planned and managed post plenary workshops.  They were designed in such a way as to focus upon a particular aspect of the Plenary session which preceded them - Design, Deprivation & Destiny: what will it take to create healthy sustainable neighbourhoods?.  Delegates were able to pursue those issues related to healthy sustainable neighbourhoods which were of most interest to them.  The outcome of these workshops was a series of key recommendations which UKPHA promises to tackle as priorities over the next year and will return to in Bournemouth in 2010.  One is given for each of UKPHA Strategic and Special Interest Groups.

Health & Sustainable Development StIG

Public health should focus on achieving sustainable wellbeing, led by a senior Cabinet Minister, owned by local strategic  partnerships and funded to the level of 50% of the NHS budget.

Health Visiting SIG

Work to reduce health inequalities and promote sustainable nurturing family and neighbourhood environments; utilising both asset and needs analysis, and the sharing and use of robust information at local neighbourhood partnership levels.

Devolution StIG

Each jurisdiction - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - to develop a comprehensive public transport system, tailored to meet local needs, that promotes walking and cycling e.g. with cycle carrying trains.

Health & Sustainable Environments SIG

To address the real and urgent need to require that the broad spectrum of public health knowledge is actively integrated into planning processes in genuine partnership with communities.

Alcohol & Violence SIG

To reinforce with Government the need to prioritise 'dual diagnosis', tackling mental illness and alcohol misuse together.

Food & Nutrition SIG

To embed in planning processes the ability of local communities to grow, sell and buy locally produced food.  Local authorities should use their restrictive powers (by-laws) to create these opportunities by restricting fast food outlets and supermarkets.  This should be enacted through Local Area Agreements.

Health Housing & Fuel Poverty StIG

To promote improved joint working between Health and Housing at all levels, particularly through the development of robust evidence regarding health outcomes in the field of housing.