The CSP has joined forces with over 80 other health organisations to voice serious concerns about the government’s plans to reorganise the public health system.
The coalition of health organisations, which includes the Royal Society for Public Health, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Faculty of Public Health, the Smokefree Action Coalition and the British Medical Association, has come together following recent announcements that Public Health England (PHE) is due to be shut down, by April next year, and replaced by a new organisation known as the National Institute of Health Protection.
In a joint statement, issued today to the prime minister, the secretary of state for health, and the interim leadership of PHE, the CSP and other coalition members warn about the timing of the planned changes – which are set to occur during the ongoing uncertainty caused by Covid-19 – as well as the need for an effective strategy that will ensure an improved system, sufficient funding and an efficient hand-over of responsibility.
The statement highlights that:
‘Reorganisation risks fragmentation across different risk factors and between health protection and health improvement.
‘Organisational change is difficult and can be damaging at the best of times and these are not the best of times.
A seamless transition from the current to the new system is essential
‘There are opportunities from this re-organisation to improve on current delivery, but only if there is greater investment combined with an emphasis on deepening expertise, improving co-ordination and strengthening accountability.’
The full statement is available here
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