Consultation - Health White Paper

The Health secretary Andrew Lansley has announced plans for a ‘radical’ new public health service to encourage people in England to adopt healthier lifestyles.  Lansley said: “People’s health and wellbeing will be at the heart of everything local councils do. It's nonsense to think that health can be tackled on its own.  Directors of public health will be able to champion local cooperation so that health issues are considered as a priority alongside housing, transport and education.”

Public Health England, a new central body, will see the government hand over more power to local authorities, with ring-fenced funding from within the overall NHS budget.  The Department of Health estimates that around £4bn will be spent on the delivery of the new service, which will also incorporate industry, charities and other departments.  The money promised, although it is said to be only a baseline, is just a fraction of total NHS spending, which is more than £100bn and expected to rise to £114bn over the next four years

In his White Paper, Lansley said the approach would incorporate projects such as the new £135m Olympic legacy participation programme and the protection of green spaces. 

For more information on the White Paper – ‘Healthy People, Healthy Lives’ visit

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Features/DH_122253

The key physical activity references are in Chapter Three including reference to the Responsibility Deal.