Due to government grants being completely withdrawn, the UK Public Health Association (UKPHA) has had to discontinue operating as an independent organization.
The UKPHA’s previous role was to bring together public health practitioners with a particular focus on eliminating inequalities. Their work has been transferred to the Faculty of Public Health and they are due to be removed from the Companies House Register on 31st October 2001.
Diane Abbott, the Shadow Health Minister, explained:
“It is right that the government looks for ways it can make efficiencies, but what we’re seeing from this government is a large-scale demolition job on the country’s capacity to improve public health and reduce health inequalities. The problem is that this organization works to bring public health practitioners together, at a time when the government’s health plans are fragmenting and dispersing out current public health workforce. Instead of sideling the country’s public health professionals, the government should be putting in place a long-term strategy to cope with some of the huge public health challenges this country faces.
The really worrying thing is that we’re seeing a whole series of bread and butter public services suffering death by constriction. A third of neonatal units in England are reducing their numbers of nurses, anti-obesity programs and agencies that treat problem drinkers are now standing on the edge of a precipice, and the government has axed programs like Birth to Five, which gives advice to parents on bringing up their child, such as feeding and immunization.
Andrew Lansley seems to be blinded by his faith in big business. Over 400 senior doctors and public health experts have sounded the alarm about the direction the government is taking the country in. Health groups, schools and families are all crying out for the government to think again.”
Edited by Grace Rattue