The Royal Society of Public Health and UK Faculty of Public Health want the political parties to adopt a 12-step wish list to boost the nation’s health.
They claim practical steps need to be taken to tackle serious public health concerns such as obesity, heart disease, alcohol abuse and sexually transmitted infections.
Jointly representing about 9,000 public health professionals, their manifesto calls for:
1. A minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol sold
Alcohol consumption in the UK has doubled over the last 40 years. The average consumption of alcohol in a population is directly linked to the amount of harm. Consumption is strongly linked to affordability: as price has fallen, consumption has risen. Alcohol is now 69%more affordable than in 1980. Tackling price and availability are the most effective alcohol policies.
2. No junk food advertising in pre-watershed television
The Ofcom measures, in 2006, to ban junk food advertising between programmes where 20% of the audience were younger than 16 have been ineffectual. A complete ban is needed to effectively reduce consumption of salt, saturated fats and sugars by children and adolescents, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.
3. Stop smoking in multi-occupancy cars
Evidence shows that a car can be 23 times more toxic than a home environment for passive smoking.
4. Chlamydia screening for university and college freshers
STIs are rising, up by 150% between 1997 and 2007, particularly amongst young people. A concerted drive to encourage universities to offer screening to students and highlight its health impact, would raise awareness the importance of sexual health with this age group.
5. 20mph speed limit in built up areas
A 20mph speed limit in built up areas would have manifold benefits. It would reduce pedestrian and cycle accidents; encourage people to walk and cycle more because it would be safer; and discourage people from using polluting cars because of the ‘frustration’ of having to drive slowly.
6. A school nurse for every secondary school within 10 years
School nurses play a vital role in child and adolescent health. They can also help identify at-risk teenagers.
7. 25% increase in the number of cycle lanes and cycle storage facilities
Making roads safer for people to cycle on will help reduce cardiovascular disease and decrease carbon emissions as more people use bikes instead of cars on short and medium distance journeys. The economic benefits of walking and cycling routes show a cost benefit ratio of 20:1 with likely savings including a reduction in deaths due to heart disease and stroke. Planning controls should include stipulations to build appropriate cycle storage facilities spearheaded by supermarkets and hospitals.
8. Compulsory and standardised front-of-pack labelling for all pre-packaged food
A clear at-a-glance labelling system, including a traffic-light‚ indication of the level of fats, saturated fats, sugars and salt, would help consumers choose healthier options, and should be made compulsory.
9. Olympic legacy to include a commitment to expand and upgrade school sports facilities and playing fields
Increasing physical activities in schools is vital to fighting childhood obesity. Evidence suggests that pupils who are more active are also more attentive in class and have greater concentration.
10. Introduce presumed consent for organ donation
The need for donor organs is more pressing than ever and surgeons are increasingly using higher risk‚ donors with less healthy organs. One thousand people per year die waiting for an organ donation. We need the urgent introduction of a presumed consent scheme, allowing people to opt out if they choose to do so.
11. Free school meals for all children under 16
Evidence shows that cardiovascular diseases can originate in childhood, and it is important to start good dietary habits early. It is estimated that by 2020 one in five boys and one in three girls will be obese. A free school meal scheme has been successful for over 30 years in both Sweden and Finland, and ensures that pupils receive at least one nutritious meal everyday, regardless of their home circumstances. This would do much to reduce health inequalities in terms of childhood obesity.
12. Stop the use of transfats
It has been proven that transfats (industrially produced transfatty acids) can damage health. As with cigarettes there is no known safe level of consumption. Banning transfats from foods is a relatively easy way to help protect the public.
Professor Richard Parish, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “We are facing unprecedented challenges to public health ranging from climate change to a catastrophic diet and accidents to alcohol abuse. The time to act is now, not to wait until it is too late to do anything meaningful.
“Many of the actions needed require political will, rather than resources. This manifesto represents a start upon which the next government can build a healthier and more prosperous future.”
Both the government and the Conservatives said that public health was a priority, but declined to commit themselves to the policies.
