Public Health Minister Jane Ellison captured the ethos of the RSPH annual conference as ‘recognising the best of the best in public health practice and innovation.’ With a turnout of over 250 delegates and the inaugural screening of Improve and Protect, RSPH’s film with ITN Productions, the annual conference on 22 October 2015 offered a chance to celebrate the success of our wide range of well-deserving 2015 award winners.
Chaired by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, President of RSPH and with presentations and speeches from such high-profile speakers as Jane Ellison MP and Toby Cosgrove MD, Chief Executive of the Cleveland Clinic, this year’s conference was themed around the changing landscape of public health; exploring the changes we are currently seeing and the global changes we would like to see in the future.
Nowhere was the full scale of the changing landscape of public health better explored than in the film Improve and Protect, which identified key national public health challenges and initiatives that help communities take responsibility for their own health. These ranged from initiatives such as ‘football fans in training,’ encouraging physical activity and diet advice in a football stadium setting; ‘arts on prescription,’ with activities such as weekly singing groups shown to have a demonstrably positive impact on mental wellbeing and the use of technology to gather big data and identify trends.
The conference started with Jane Ellison MP presenting the Public Health Minister’s Award, recognising the contribution made to public health by organisations in the public, private and third sectors. She praised the innovative ways we are working more flexibly across health and care systems to meet the needs of the 21st century with the ‘great joy’ of public health being that ‘everyone can join in.’ Awards were presented to Gateway Family Services, Birmingham which offers health and wellbeing services and employment access and training and Big Life Group, Salford for their work in offering community support centres and access to wellbeing services.
Shirley Cramer CBE, RSPH Chief Executive addressed the theme of ‘Reflecting back, looking forward,’ highlighting the prevalent message of collaboration which was clearly demonstrated in the RSPH film. Shirley discussed how the RSPH annual review for 2014/5 addresses the need for the implementation of a radical upgrade in public health, as called for in the NHS Five Year Forward View. She gave an overview of the key activities and themes of the RSPH’s work over the last 18 months which are outlined in the review. Highlights included: supporting the wider workforce; a focus on place, such as our health on the high street campaign, continued growth of RSPH membership; key policies and campaigns on e-cigarette use, alcohol calorie labelling and fast food allergy information, to name a few, that have significantly raised the profile of our external voice. To conclude her speech, the new RSPH health improvement pathway was announced, which provides a structured plan for those obtaining qualifications up to level 5.
A key example of an innovative wellness initiative came from Toby Cosgrove MD, Chief Executive of the Cleveland Clinic, who provided examples of how involvement from the private sector is ‘vital to the prevention agenda.’ His presentation outlined drastic changes made within a private healthcare system comprised of the clinic, eight community hospitals and16 family health and ambulatory surgery centres which targeted improving wellness for patients, employees and within the community.
New initiatives included banning smoking on all facilities, stopping hiring smokers, no sugared drinks, employee access to gyms and weight loss programmes and random drugs testing. The statistics spoke for themselves, with the inflation rate of health insurance for employees now negative, whereas before if had been 7.5%. Changes to the system also included a focus on improving the patient experience, e.g. reducing waiting times and provisions for the future through the mentoring of 250 doctors in a leadership position to address what Toby Cosgrove identified as a ‘disparity of 20 years life expectancy between the have and have nots.’
RSPH provide nationally recognised, qualifications that equip candidates for the workplace in their specific industry, and six top achievers in our qualifications were presented with awards, recognising individual achievement and the work of our training centres. The Arts and Health Awards were presented by RSPH Chair Dr Fiona Sim OBE on the theme of creative arts and the wellbeing of military forces and their families to two deserving organisations: Home Front, who tackled mental health issues affecting military personnel and Re- Live, who worked with veterans and their families to produce theatre based on their military experiences.
The Public Health Journal Award this year was for the most downloaded issue of 2014: ‘WHO Past, Present and Future,’ guest edited by Professors Lawrence Gostin and Devi Sridhar. Full reference (D Sridhar, L Gostin (Guest eds.) Special Issue: WHO Past, Present and Future. Public Health 2014: 128 (2)). Fellows of RSPH can access this through the Members Area.
Discussion of the ‘changing landscape’ of public health also covered the changing image of the fire service from its traditional role to an expanded remit as a health asset. Gary Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire Officer with West Midlands Fire Service, outlined the change of strategic direction of WMFS in supporting people in the community and working on the causes of the causes: educating people as to what causes fires and discussed health-related issues that can help prevent fires.
Awards also recognised those who had played a demonstrable role in shaping the landscape of healthcare: Sir Leonard Fenwick CBE, Chief Executive of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust received the award of Companionship from the IHM to mark a significant contribution to healthcare management and leadership with over 50 years of influential and continuous service to the NHS, as selected by peers.
Professor David Heymann CBE, Chairman of Public Health England addressed the changing landscape of international public health and what the UK can contribute to our global future. The SARS chain of human-to-human transmission in Singapore (2003) was used as an example of how health professionals need to contribute to other countries to help make healthcare more equitable worldwide.
The closing speech from Dr Fiona Sim reinforced the importance of improving and protecting the health of the population without the baggage of protecting interests of a particular sector or nation. Thanks were given to Lord Hunt for chairing and all his support, RSPH staff and trustees and offer our warmest congratulations to all of our award winners in 2015.
