Policy & acts: health promotion & protection

2009

NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy

Commits the NHS to reducing its carbon emissions by 10% between 2007 and 2015.  Major proposals include carbon management at Board level in NHS organisations; improved water and waste management; reduction in travel by patients and staff; and improved building design.

Saving carbon, improving health: the NHS carbon reduction strategy (Sustainable Development Unit, 2009)

2008

Healthy weight, healthy lives

Policy paper giving the national response to the obesity epidemic in England, with the overall aim of reducing 2020 obesity levels to those of the year 2000. Policies include regular weighing of children, promoting healthier food choices, encouraging a health-promoting environment such as healthy towns, and campaigns to encourage walking.

Healthy weight, healthy lives: a cross-government strategy for England (DH, Jan 2008)

2007

Cancer Reform Strategy

Set out a number of detailed promises on cancer services, including extending the eligible population for breast screening from 50-70 to 47-73 and introducing digital mammography; and ensuring bowel screening was been rolled out for 60-69 year olds across England by the end of 2009, in preparation for further extension.

Cancer Reform Strategy (DH, Dec 2007)

2006

Stern Review

Report to UK Treasury suggesting the economic benefits of tackling climate change now outweigh the possible future costs.

Stern review on the economics of climate change  (HM Treasury, October 2006)
International and global public health - climate change (Internal link)

Health Bill

Imposed restrictions on smoking in enclosed public places, including all pubs, clubs and restaurants, in England, from April 2007. Similar legislation was introduced slightly earlier in the rest of the UK.

Health Bill (House of Lords, February 2006) | Health promotion (internal link)

2005

Pandemic influenza planning

See flu pandemic planning page for more details on UK and international policies.

2004

Choosing Health

White Paper which sets out the Government's vision for empowering patients to make healthy choices by increasing the availability of high quality information.  Focuses in particular on obesity, smoking, STIs and alcohol.

Choosing Health - making healthy choices easier (DH, Nov 2004)
DH Choosing Health pages | Delivery Plan (DH, March 2005)
Health promotion (internal link)

2003

Licensing Act (came into force November 2005)

Allowed pubs, clubs and off-licences the option of applying for later opening hours, thus increasing the availability of alcohol in the UK.

Licensing Act (2003) (HMSO, 2003) | Licensing Act explained (DCMS, 2005)
Health promotion (internal link)

1988

Public Health Regulations

Most recent iteration of the Public Health Act, updating the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, detailing statutory obligations in notifiable disease reporting.

Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 (OPSI, October 1988)

1948

National Assistance Act

Best known in Public Health circles for Section 47, which concerns the removal of individuals to hospital against their will. To fulfil the conditions of the Act, an individual must be elderly or suffering from a chronic disease and living in insanitary conditions; and be unable to look after themselves and not have anyone caring for them. The original Act required the Proper Officer (usually the local CCDC) to present evidence to the Magistrates Court, with 7 days' notice served thereafter.  The Act was revised in 1951 so that removals could be immediate, providing two medical doctors (usually the Proper Officer and one other doctor) certify the individual.  The Act is rarely required - many patients can eventually be persuaded to come into hospital voluntarily.

Section 47 (Cumbria and Lancs HPU/Healthprotection.org.uk, 2003)
Law and the elderly (Liverpool University Handbook of Geriatric Medicine)