The one – and only – time I watched the Sound of Music was on its first showing on BBC One on Christmas Day 1978. The songs have become so pervasive though that I suppose it’s no surprise that they come to mind every so often. One in particular seems an appropriate way of capturing … Continued

Guest blogpost for the Royal Society for Public Health

At one time, the UK’s Public Health Register might have been regarded as the “new kid on the block” but not anymore. Started in 2003, the Register has grown to be the pre-eminent regulator of public health professionals – registering specialists, Specialty Registrars and practitioners. Regulating public health specialists has been quite a journey. Pre-September … Continued

  There is an old joke that says “I was reading a great book on glue. I couldn’t put it down.” Actually, glue and I are not terribly good friends. Invariably, I have the wrong sort for the job and try to mend a mug handle with stuff that only sticks paper or else I … Continued

10 February is Plimsoll Day. You might think this is a day for celebrating gym shoes – you know, the rubber-soled shoes where your feet stay dry as long as water does not come above the line of the sole. But did you know that plimsolls acquired their name because of the resemblance to the … Continued

Health and care systems across the globe are under pressure. New technology and treatments create supplier induced demand. Consumer expectations and increasing numbers of people living with non-communicable disease only add to this demand. Health inequalities in countries like the United States[i] and England[ii] are widening. So where would you put any extra money to make a … Continued

The debate opened up through the article by Allen and Freigl (Lancet, February 2017 and July 2017) is timely and welcomed. This has been an on going challenge for those working on NCD prevention and one that has not been fully addressed or resolved. This is probably because it is not possible, given the broad scope of NCDs … Continued

If it were a household, instead of Europe’s largest employer, the NHS would be living in poverty. It is hugely in debt and at considerable risk of ill-health. Reporting in 2002, Derek Wanless forecast that the gap between NHS income and expenditure would rise to £30 billion by 2022/23 if the public did not engage with its … Continued

The quote from the American public health speaker and writer Midy Aponte “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring your own chair” brings to mind one of the Just William stories. William and his friends meet as usual in the old barn in high spirits, which fall very quickly on seeing that the tempestuous … Continued

Members of the UK Public Health Network are all too aware of the challenges to the public’s health which have changed markedly over the last few decades. The significant growth in a range of health problems related to smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, obesity and physical inactivity alongside threats from new infectious diseases makes it … Continued