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Adam Briggs

@admbriggs.bsky.social
959 followers 300 following 99 posts

Public health doctor. Oxfordshire County Council; The Health Foundation; University of Southampton/NIHR. Health/public health policy, sustainability. And bits of music, nature, stuff. Views own.

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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
The latest Sport England Active Lives Adults Survey report has been published today, covering data up to 2023/24. 🧵 www.sportengland.org/news-and-ins...
sportengland.org
Record numbers playing sport and taking part in physical activity | Sport England
Sport England releases its Active Lives Adult Survey Report for 2023/24, showing record numbers of people are playing sport and taking part in physical activity.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
New @bmj.com opinion piece with Zoe Rostas out this evening unpicking our @healthfoundation.bsky.social / @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social public health polling data: www.bmj.com/content/389/...
bmj.com
Tackling alcohol and unhealthy food is crucial to the health and wealth of the nation—so when will we see bolder government action?
Central to the government's mission to improve health and fix the NHS is a “shift from sickness to prevention.”1 Yet key indicators suggest we are moving in the wrong direction. Healthy life expectanc...
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Today, we've published new @healthfoundation.bsky.social / @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social showing the public supports bolder policy approaches to tackle alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food. 1/n www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/art...
Graph summarising Health Foundation / Ipsos polling data. It shows levels of public support across a range of population-level public health policies, some of which are summarised in the thread.
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Hazel Cheeseman @hazelcheeseman.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
APPG on Smoking and Health publish report today on how the government can make smoking obsolete. Top line recommendations here
This image describes the recommendations made in the APPG on Smoking and Health's report calling on government to publish a roadmap to a smokefree country
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
ICYMI, welcome confirmation on Monday of supplementary drug and alcohol funding for local authorities for 25/26. Although a single year allocation coming right at the end of the financial year doesn't make service planning any easier for local public health teams. www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery funding allocations: 2025 to 2026
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
V enjoyable discussion on The Future of Health Equity at #UKHSA25 yesterday. Thanks to Shona Arora for guiding us through questions on what an equitable health system looks like, and the challenges & opportunities in getting there. Hats off to conf. organisers for tackling health equity head on.
Photo of the panel discussion, with Bola Owolabi, Greg Fell, Shona Arora, Dave Buck and Adam Briggs.Photo of details of session, it reads:
Participants: Dr Shona Arora - Director, Health Equity and Clinical Governance, UKHSA ; Adam Briggs - Senior Policy Fellow, The Health Foundation ; David Buck - Senior Fellow, Public Health and Inequalities, The King's Fund ; Greg Fell - Director of Public Health for Sheffield ; Professor Bola Owolabi - Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England

Outline: This session will imagine a future, model health system where health equity is embedded at its core. Panellists will discuss what the key levers are that need to be implemented and how our health system needs to evolve to make this change a reality.

Participants will leave with an understanding of the systemic and structural barriers within our health system which currently limit our ability to improve equitable health outcomes in England. Participants will then also learn what top three or four interventions could be implemented to address these problems. We hope that attendees will then look at opportunities to make these interventions happen within their own areas of work.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
V much looking forward to discussing the Future of Health Equity at 2:35 today, with Shona Arora and intimidatingly impressive panel, Bola Owolabi, @felly500.bsky.social and @davidjbuck.bsky.social. Lots to unpick on what needs to change to better embed equity in health and PH. #UKHSA25
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Thank you Manchester Folk Festival and New Century Hall. That was proper fun. (And yes, I did use my NHS Health Check bottle on stage, I know our demographic) #GetYourFreeNHSHealthCheck #MFF
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Last week, a @bmj.com opinion piece suggested that the NHS Health Check should be abolished and instead, everyone over 50 should be given a polypill. Here's why it's not such a great idea and what could perhaps be done instead 👇 www.bmj.com/content/388/...
bmj.com
There’s no quick fix for preventing heart disease, but we have the tools we need to make an impact
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Thinking of public health NHS and DHSC / OHID colleagues who went through PHE’s dissolution during the pandemic just four years ago and are again facing huge professional uncertainty. Your work remains essential and hugely valued. Thank you.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
New opinion piece in @bmj.com on the £200m uplift in the 2025/26 local authority public health grant allocation: is it really enough to shift the dial on prevention and public health? tl,dr: No, it's not. Yet. More here 👇 www.bmj.com/content/388/... And some charts / stats in the thread below.
bmj.com
Public health grant funding—a welcome boost after a decade of neglect
This year’s above inflation public health grant settlement is welcome.1 But with declining healthy life expectancy and funding still 26% lower per person than a decade ago, we need a multi-year fundin...
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David Buck @davidjbuck.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Opinion piece from @admbriggs.bsky.social @healthfoundation.bsky.social and colleagues, on the #publichealth #grant uplift. As often is the case, i agree with Adam's opinions here www.bmj.com/content/388/... (err, though what on earth that photo has to do with it i really don't know...)
bmj.com
Public health grant funding—a welcome boost after a decade of neglect
This year’s above inflation public health grant settlement is welcome.1 But with declining healthy life expectancy and funding still 26% lower per person than a decade ago, we need a multi-year fundin...
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
This is such a unique and exciting opportunity to join @healthfoundation.bsky.social as an Assistant Director and PH Consultant to lead on UK prevention policy. V happy to chat. Please share @adphuk.bsky.social @fphuk.bsky.social @publichealthjobs.bsky.social @pubhealthjobsuk.bsky.social 👇👇
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Delighted that @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social in part of an @nihr.bsky.social and @ukri.org net zero hub research leading on health and extreme heat, led by Oxford Brookes. Massive hats off to all involved and really looking forward to getting started. www.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-ps4...
nihr.ac.uk
New £42m funding for net zero research hubs across the UK
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
🧵 We are pleased to support the Royal College of Physicians' new principles for an integrated public health system. @admbriggs.bsky.social says they show what that system could look like to deliver the required shift to prevention, and help embed public health across government. buff.ly/4hKnftx
‘The new government has made prevention a core part of its health mission. Crucial to success is a publish health system that is fit for purpose.’ Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Responding to the latest ONS life expectancy data, Anna Gazzillo says that the downward revision to expected lifespans is deeply concerning, and reflects a long-standing trend of slowing improvements to mortality rates over the decade prior to the pandemic. Read our full response ⬇️ buff.ly/40UH75W
'Rebuilding the nation's health will be crucial to the government's ambitions for achieving economic growth. The government must focus on prevention through all our public services, ensuring that everyone can live well for longer.' Anna Gazzillo, Senior Analytical Manager at the Health Foundation
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
"Free webinar 27 February 2025" Join us to explore revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework, hosted with the Local Health and Global Profits project and Department of Health and Social Care. Find out more➡️bit.ly/4aRiRGJ
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
This is exciting. Big shoes to fill but very much looking forward to it. www.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-dir...
nihr.ac.uk
New Directors appointed for 5 NIHR programmes
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Great video from @healthequals.bsky.social on the factors that affect our health and wellbeing, and how the world around us shapes our health. #PublicHealth bit.ly/3WQ13FR
youtube.com
What are the building blocks of health and wellbeing?
YouTube video by Health Equals
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Faculty of Public Health @fphuk.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
A reminder to all Faculty members to join us for tomorrow’s #PublicHealthSpaces meeting! @sallywarren.bsky.social will be discussing the 10-Year Health Plan’s priorities regarding prevention ➡️ www.fph.org.uk/events-cours... This session will be chaired by @profkevinfenton.bsky.social.
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
With alcohol related deaths at a record high, preventing alcohol related issues is key and it is important that we have a wide-ranging national strategy to reduce alcohol harm.
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Max Warner @maxwarner.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Today the ONS have published new estimates of UK healthcare productivity. They estimate that productivity has declined substantially, while last week NHS England estimated that English acute hospital productivity has increased. What’s going on? A short thread
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
The details of the 2025/26 PH grant allocations are now available, including the £200m uplift announced first thing this morning. However, the grant value is still 26% lower per person in real terms than 2015/16. Short 🧵 on why today's uplift is important and why it needs to be just the start. 1/
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Responding to today's public health grant announcement, @admbriggs.bsky.social says it is a welcome first step in putting prevention at the heart of the government's agenda. After a decade of cuts, however, it needs to be backed up by a plan to restore the grant to 2015–16 levels ⬇️ buff.ly/4jPwvxZ
'The government placed prevention as a cornerstone of the health mission. While increasing the public health grant is very welcome, it will need to be backed up with a multi-year plan to fully restore the grant to 2015–16 levels by the end of this parliament.' 
Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
News! The public health grant has today received its first significant real-terms increase after a decade of neglect, something we - and others - have long been calling for. But it's still 26% down on 2015/16. More analysis once allocations published later.👀 www.health.org.uk/press-office...
health.org.uk
Public health grant funding – a welcome boost after a decade of neglect
The Health Foundation responds to the public health grant allocations.
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Jean Adams 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦 @jeanmadams.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
ICYMI: Our new paper on the impact of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy is out. 19 months after implementation, we found that households purchased 7.5g less sugar from soft drinks compared to expected - equivalent to a 2.6% reduction. nutrition.bmj.com/content/earl...
Background The WHO recommends taxes on sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) to improve population health. We examined changes in volume of and amount of sugar in purchases of soft drinks according to household income and composition, 19 months following the implementation of the UK soft drinks industry levy.

Methods Data were from the Kantar Fast Moving Consumer Goods panel, a market research panel which collects data on weekly household purchases (mean weekly number of households=21 908), March 2014–November 2019. Interrupted time series analysis of volume and sugar purchases was used to estimate absolute and relative differences in the volume and amount of sugar in soft drinks, confectionery and alcohol purchased weekly by household income (<£20 000, £20–50 000 or >£50 000) and composition (presence of children (<16 years) in the household (yes or no)), 19 months after soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) implementation, compared with the counterfactual scenario based on pre-announcement trends and using a control group (toiletries).

Results By November 2019, purchased weekly sugar in soft drinks fell by 7.46 g (95% CI: 12.05, 2.87) per household but volumes of drinks purchased remained unchanged, compared with the counterfactual. In low-income households, weekly sugar purchased in soft drinks decreased by 14.0% (95% CI: 12.1, 15.9) compared with the counterfactual but in high-income households increased by 3.4% (1.07, 5.75). Among households with children, sugar purchased decreased by 13.7% (12.1, 15.3) but increased in households without children by 5.0% (3.0, 7.0). Low-income households and those with children also reduced their weekly volume of soft drinks purchased by 5.7% (3.7, 7.7) and 8.5% (6.8, 10.2) respectively. There was no evidence of substitution to confectionary or alcohol.

Conclusion In the second year following implementation of the SDIL, effects on sugar purchased were greatest in those with the highest pre-SDIL purchasing levels (low-income household…
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Well timed report from @local.gov.uk on the need for a much clearer approach to health inequalities. Local gov is critical to narrowing the gap + great to see it feature @oxfordshirecc.bsky.social as a case study & refer to work from @healthfoundation.bsky.social www.local.gov.uk/about/news/g...
local.gov.uk
Government urged to introduce national health inequalities strategy
The Government is being urged to introduce a national health inequalities strategy to tackle England’s widening health inequality gap, in a new report by the Local Government Association.
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
@adphuk.bsky.social President @felly500.bsky.social responds to Local Government Association report. "Closing the health inequality gap needs an ambitious, health in all policies approach." 👀Read full response➡️ bit.ly/4hL6Qol bit.ly/4hNLB5r
bit.ly
Government urged to introduce national health inequalities strategy
The Government is being urged to introduce a national health inequalities strategy to tackle England’s widening health inequality gap, in a new report by the Local Government Association.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Today's ONS data shows alcohol specific deaths in England alongside the rest of the UK. While deaths have plateaued in in Scotland and NI, they continue to rise in Eng and Wales with major inequalities between regions. England (still) hasn't had a national alcohol strategy since 2010.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
In December, Wes Streeting told the Health and Social Care Committee that the announcement of the Public Health Grant allocations to local councils would be made in January...#clocksticking committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
Except from the Health and Social Care Committee transcript where Wes Streeting says: "We will be making the public health grant allocations shortly—in fact, I am happy to say that we will be doing that in January, which is earlier than it normally comes, so that will give people the chance to plan ahead."
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
DHSC's now responded to the @houseoflords.parliament.uk 'Recipe for Health' report on how to fix our food system The response includes: -a new food strategy to come from Defra -recognition that it needs a cross-gov approach -industry to remain v much part of the solution www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Government response to the House of Lords food and health report
The government’s response to the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee's report 'Recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system'.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
In December, Wes Streeting told the Health and Social Care Committee that the announcement of the Public Health Grant allocations to local councils would be made in January...#clocksticking committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
Except from the Health and Social Care Committee transcript where Wes Streeting says: "We will be making the public health grant allocations shortly—in fact, I am happy to say that we will be doing that in January, which is earlier than it normally comes, so that will give people the chance to plan ahead."
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Charles Tallack @charlestallack.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Last week ONS published analysis showing that an A&E wait of 12-13 hours is associated with a more-than-doubling of the chance of death within 30 days, compared to a wait of 2-3 hours. But how many deaths is that? 🧵 1/12 www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
ons.gov.uk
Association between time spent in emergency care and 30-day post-discharge mortality, England - Office for National Statistics
Relationship between time spent in A&E and the odds of 30-day, post-discharge, all-cause mortality, controlling for other factors.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Bold action on unhealthy food will be essential if gov is going to delivering on its health mission to increase healthy life expectancy and tackle inequalities. Great to talk to @hannahbrins.bsky.social and @foodfoundation.bsky.social about what can be done to create a healthier food system.
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Hannah Brinsden @hannahbrins.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
It was a great pleasure to chat to @admbriggs.bsky.social , Alison, Antony and Lord Bethell about the opportunities of the new government, especially the food strategy, to really incentivise change in the system and make it easier to access and afford health food!
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Fascinating interview with the NovoNordisk scientist behind ozempic on R4Today. Seemed fairly extraordinary she refused to talk about side effects because she’s “not a medical doctor”. Pharma is obliged to record side effects - it’s particularly important for drugs used at such vast scale.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Today MPs are debating the impact of food and diet on obesity. This follows the landmark @houseoflords.parliament.uk report last year. There’s no silver bullet - any approach will need both strong regulatory action as well as individual support. 1/ committees.parliament.uk/committee/69...
committees.parliament.uk
The Government needs a plan to fix our broken food system and turn the tide on the public health emergency - Committees - UK Parliament
The House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee demands that the Government should develop a comprehensive, integrated long-term new strategy to fix our food system, underpinned by a new legislati...
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
WEBINAR CATCH UP: What can #LocalGovernment in England do to tackle the leading risk factors for ill health - tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food? In September, Alice Wiseman, Shannon Katiyo and Jeanelle de Gruchy joined @admbriggs.bsky.social to discuss 👇 buff.ly/4gEyjrT
buff.ly
Webinar: What can local government in England do to tackle the leading risk factors for ill health?
This webinar discussed how local authorities in England can collaborate across their teams and directorates to tackle tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
Really good to hear @laylamoran.bsky.social on Today programme this morning talk about the need to move away from short term policy making and the need to protect prevention spending across gov. www.health.org.uk/press-office...
health.org.uk
Joint letter to the Chancellor to address spending on prevention
The Health Foundation, Demos, Institute for Government and CIPFA have called on the Chancellor to address spending on prevention in the upcoming Budget.
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Bren Collins @breconomics.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Come and work with me and my colleagues on an exciting project with the Health Foundation around modelling multimorbidity Research Fellow (Epidemiology & Data Science) Public Health, Policy & Systems Grade 8 £46,485 - £58,596 pa 07-Jan-2025 23:30 my.corehr.com/pls/ulivrecr...
my.corehr.com
Job Specification
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Excellent thread from @jleggat.bsky.social unpicking yesterday's local gov finance settlement. The 2025/26 public health grant wasn't announcement, with details of the allocation now expected in Jan. Knowing grant details early is essential for councils to plan services, 1/
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Where we live has a profound impact on our health & wellbeing⬇️ Find out what we're doing to foster collaborative relationships between planning & public health teams so health & wellbeing can be embedded into planning ➡️bit.ly/3WmqMoq www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-re...
instituteofhealthequity.org
Building Health Equity: The Role of the Property Sector in Improving Health - Institute of Health Equity
Building Health Equity: The Role of the Property Sector in Improving Health
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
BBC news today: "A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said there had been an unwillingness to lead on issues such as alcohol harm..."for too long"." Hopefully this signals some intent to start taking rising alcohol harms seriously in England. www.bbc.co.uk/naews/articl...
bbc.co.uk
Deaths from alcohol in England at record high
Public-health experts are calling for minimum pricing to stop further rises in harmful drinking.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Monday night at @unionchapeluk.bsky.social with @stornowayband.bsky.social was absolutely gorgeous. Thank you to everyone who helped make it so special.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
New ONS data shows that healthy life expectancy in England and Wales has fallen below 2017-19 levels, with stark regional inequalities. This reflects the pandemic's toll and follows a decade of stagnation. Explore our Evidence Hub for more insights ⬇️ buff.ly/4ga5SBB
Line graph of healthy life expectancy at birth (years), United Kingdom, 2000-02 to 2021-23 showing that, in the decade leading up to the pandemic, healthy life expectancy in the United Kingdom stalled or worsened.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Strengthening the National Planning Policy Framework was one of our five @healthfoundation.bsky.social asks when we wrote about what national government can do to support local government do more to reduce harm from alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food. 1/ www.health.org.uk/reports-and-...
health.org.uk
Addressing the leading risk factors for ill health – supporting local government to do more
Tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy foods are the leading causes of preventable ill health in England. This briefing outlines five national policy changes that would support further local government action...
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Royal Society for Public Health @rsph.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Earlier this year, we called for measures to enable local authorities to shape their food environments and reduce the proximity of fast food outlets to schools. @oha-updates.bsky.social Today, the National Planning Policy Framework has been revised to reflect our recommendations. 🧵👇
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Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) @adphuk.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
The CMO's annual report highlights health challenges & opportunities for people living in cities. We need to: ▶️make eating healthily an option for all ▶️⬇️air pollution ▶️address mental health needs ▶️improve access to sexual health services www.gov.uk/government/p...
gov.uk
Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2024: health in cities
Professor Whitty’s report outlines a broad range of health opportunities and challenges for city populations, and includes case studies from core cities in England.
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Out just now, this is now explicit guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework! This will be a huge help for councils wanting to create healthy places, reducing the scope for costly legal challenges from fast food companies. #HealthyPlaceShaping www.gov.uk/government/p...
Copy of paragraph 97 from the national planning policy framework. It reads: Local planning authorities should refuse applications for hot food takeaways and fast 
food outlets:
a) within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young 
people congregate, unless the location is within a designated town centre; or
b) in locations where there is evidence that a concentration of such uses is having 
an adverse impact on local health, pollution or anti-social-behaviour
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Adam Briggs @admbriggs.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Wowsers. Thankfully no-one obviously hurt. This is going to take a while to clear. Headington Hill, Oxford #StormDarragh @oxfordclarion.bsky.social
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