Devolution
The Devolution Group was redesignated a Strategic Interest Group
in March 2007 in recognition its broad and multi-thematic
scope. Unlike the SIGs, its membership is made up of a
relatively small number of representatives from across the nations
of the UK and Ireland but it is not open to all UKPHA
members. If you are interested in the work of the SIG and
would like to find out more, or if you are keen to become involved,
please contact the SIG Chair using the link below.
Mission
The mission of the Devolution Strategic Interest Group is to
promote the dissemination of information about the
ongoing development of public health policy, practice and
structures in the four countries of the United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland with a view to determining the utility
of different approaches through comparative analysis.
StIG at the Annual Public Health Forum
The StIG presented a successful workshop at this year's Annual
Public Health Forum. Colin Thunhurst gave a very thought
provoking presentation on levels of decision making on transport
and health issues. After a lively discussion the
StIG agreed to press for the development of comprehensive
public transport systems in all jurisdictions sensitive to local
needs to promote walking and cycling. For the presentation
from the workshop, please click here.
StIG Reports
The theme for the group's first report was comparing public
health in the five countries, building on the workshop that
they held at the 14th Annual Public Health Forum in
2006 (notes from the workshop can be downloaded here). The
report is entitled 'Learning from Differences Between the Four
Countries of the United Kingdom and the Republic of
Ireland'.
The group's second report focussed on one of the major public
health problems of the 21st century - namely overnutrition and
obesity. Click here to view this document.
The StIG's report for 2008, its third, is on Transport and Health. Please click here to download this
document. The presentation associated with this
report can be found here.
In its fourth year of operation the StIG has reviewed its work
on transport and health and succeeded in getting this topic
included as a sub-theme in the 2009 UKPHA Forum. A paper arising
from last year's report on Transport and Health has been published
in the UKPHA E-supplement in Public Health.
As another direct result of the StIG's work discussions are in
hand on linking its continuing interest in transport and health
with the work of the Transport and Health Study Group with the aim
of continuing to press for greater priority for this key area of
public health.
A new developing interest of the Group is how the public health
function in the five countries of the United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland is configured. There are significant
differences between the five countries which we hope to document
and evaluate.
Meetings
This StIG holds monthly teleconferences around the second
Monday of the month and would welcome information about similar
projects and is particularly keen to hear from representatives
of the various English regions.
For more information please contact Paul Walker, StIG chair.
Documents of interest:
E. Coyle et al, "Transport and health - a five-country
perspective" paper from Public Health journal. Click here to download this paper.
David Rowland, "Mapping Communicable Disease Control
Administration in the UK: Between Devolution and Europe". Click here to
download this paper.
Tom Smith and Eleanor Babbington, "Devolution: a map of
divergence in the NHS" Click here to download this paper.
Links of interest to SIG members:
Wellbeing Wales website: http://www.wellbeingwales.org