Describe the purpose of public health reports and why they are used in local and national areas. The Health Protection Agency, The Department of Health or charities such as the Terence Higgins Trust are all created by professionals that work for these organisations. Regarding particular health issues or illnesses and diseases they examine and look for trends. Regarding to particular health conditions such as heart disease the reports often contain a variety of recommendations for health improvements and also set priorities for care settings and health professionals. Including encouragement to people to complete more exercise or persuading them to eat a balanced diet. The Black Report 1980
In august 1980 this report was commissioned by the Department of Health and the labour government published it during the conservative government’s first team. This claimed that the health was getting worse in the UK since the introduction of the NHS. From a lower social class compared to a higher social class it was found the mortality rates were worse from people. There were some recommendations from the report made to improve public health and they included a national food survey, an expansion of domiciliary care and the department of Health to lead a focus on health equalities. The Acheson Report
The labour government commissioned Donald Acheson in 1997 to produce a report on health inequalities in the UK. To reduce these inequalities they wanted him to make recommendations on what the government needed to do. His report made many recommendations and followed on from two significant health reports for previous governments which are the Health Divide Report 1987 and the Black Report 1980. There is three areas of priority identified for the government including the focus on health of families with children, monitor and improve living standards of poor household and evaluating all government policies in terms of impact on health. Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation Report 1999
Particularly the health of people in poverty this health report was an action plan to improve the public’s health. Also it sets targets regarding the following four key health problems which are cancer, mental illness, coronary heart disease and stroke and also accidents. Tackling Health Inequalities: A Program for Action 2003
Following the previous reports it was commissioned by the government to check on progress. Health inequalities are stubborn, persistent and difficult to change are acknowledged in the report. The previous point made in the Black Report was reaffirmed in this report that the more affluent people are generally the better will be their health and the poorer people are the worse will be their health.
Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices 2004 This report planned a new strategy for health in the NHS which contains three key principles including: -Personalisation – any support is tailored to the service user and feels personal to them. Support should be flexible around the needs of the service user and be adapt. -Working Together – local councils, businesses, organisations, charities, the media coordinate their response and work in partnership to promote health issues and give support to service users. -Informer Choices – accurate and clear information should be provided to the public so they can then make informed decisions.