Smoking Cessation
Sefton public health director takes on national role
Janet Atherton has been named as the next president of the Association of the Directors of Public Health.
DH signs up 'trusted' agencies for PR campaigns
The Department of Health has appointed two media agencies to manage its public health awareness campaigns in a bid to “streamline” its approach to communications.
PCTs to be monitored to protect against public health cuts
Primary care trusts will be monitored to ensure they are maintaining “appropriate” investment in local public health services during the transition to council control.
Lansley: 'honesty' needed to tackle obesity
People need to be honest with themselves about how much they eat and drink in order to tackle obesity, the government has said.
Cigarette vending machines ban to improve health in children
A ban on vending machines selling tobacco that comes into force in England today will reduce the access children have to cigarettes and cut down the number of young smokers, it is hoped.
NHS costs cut by smoking schemes, study shows
A new report which found that tobacco control programmes can cut health care costs has been hailed by anti-smoking campaigners Ash Scotland.
Trebled number of smokers quitting sees overall success rate drop
The number of people trying to quit smoking via NHS services has roughly trebled in the last decade but success rates have fallen, figures show.
Lung cancer audit shows huge variations between trusts
An audit of lung cancer care has found wide regional variation in the number of patients receiving treatment.
Trust in public health advice could be compromised by reforms
The perceived independence of public health advice could be compromised if Public Health England becomes an integrated government department, existing agencies have warned.
Rethink public health data cuts - watchdog
A watchdog has called for a government rethink after discovering the NHS is set to axe the collection of key data on smoking, drinking and other health issues to cut costs.
Bad habits in young people falling, study suggests
The number of youngsters in Scotland drinking alcohol at least once a week has fallen by more than a third over the last decade, according to a study.
Anti-smoking strategy unveiled
New plans to drastically reduce smoking levels in Wales have been announced.
Marmot voices 'nudge' doubts
The president of the British Medical Association has voiced doubts over the government’s “nudge” approach to public health.
Quitters to sign contracts in smoking cessation scheme
The government is looking at a wide range of schemes to “nudge” people into adopting healthier lifestyles.
NICE work on public health guidance put on hold
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been ordered to stop developing guidance on some public health topics and put others on hold.
Government sets out who will commission public health services
Immunisation, screening and public health for the under fives will in future be commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board, under latest government proposals.
UK tops European obesity league
The UK has performed poorly in an influential health and lifestyle study, recording the highest levels of obesity and teen pregnancy.
Government to target teenage smoking
The coalition government is planning “radical” action to curb teenage smoking, ban cheap alcohol and to encourage mothers to breastfeed at work, Health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.
Lung cancer rates for women soar
Rates of lung cancer in women have soared in a sign that efforts to persuade them to quit smoking have failed, research reveals.
Passive smoking linked to 1% of deaths
Passive smoking claims more than 600,000 lives each year around the world - an estimated 1% of all deaths, a major study has found.
More on Smoking Cessation
How a COPD care bundle is reducing readmissions
Implementing a COPD care bundle can reduce readmissions and aid patient self-management. But it is only part of the solution, say Trish Winn, Maria Buxton and Mary Noone at the North West London Hospitals Trust.
The benefits of PbR in commissioning smoking cessation services
Using a payment by results approach to commissioning smoking cessation services has significantly improved results in the West Midlands, which could have implications for national policy, as Fraser Battye and Steven Wyatt explain.
A flexible intervention model driving positive, sustainable change in public health
Intervention modelling has had a positive and sustainable impact on public health behaviours, as two case studies from the north of England detail.
Is public health the most at risk from reform?
While the government paused, debate was very much in action. One key discussion at doctors.net.uk has raised serious concerns that public health could be at risk from reform when responsibility for public health campaigns falls to those ill-equipped to handle it.
Achieving behaviour change intervention value for money
Investment in behaviour change interventions must be justifiable. Rowena Merritt and colleagues present a set of tools that help demonstrate their cost effectiveness.
Tackling public health inequalities: NHS BEN's fight against smoking
With smoking levels above average in Birmingham East and North, NHS BEN’s Fight Back campaign has aimed to remove inequalities and improve health and wellbeing in the area.
