In June 2009, the Health Secretary Andy Burnham stated that prevention was to become one of four key priorities that will form the basis of NHS policy, alongside quality, productivity and innovation. He stated that the prevention agenda was to become ‘the long term insurance policy’ of the NHS. In pursuit of this goal, the government has embarked on the £372 million Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Programme to tackle obesity, the Cancer Reform Strategy and the recently launched National Liver Strategy. To talk about these and other important issues we have invited the Secretary of State for Health, Rt. Hon Andy Burnham MP, to deliver a keynote address.
This year's conference will also continue on from its predecessor in providing an up to date review of the government’s Cancer Reform Strategy, first announced in 2007. We have invited Kathy Elliot, National lead for Prevention, Early Diagnosis and Inequalities, National Cancer Action Team, to update delegates on this important strategy. In addition, we will also be covering the vitally important issue of immunisation at the conference, as swine flu, MMR and HPV continue to lead the agenda. We are pleased to invite Dr. Anne Mackie, Director of Programmes, UK Screening Committee to speak on this.
In 2010, the focus will also fall on an issue which the Health Secretary has said is as important as someone’s physical health, namely their mental health. In Britain today there are an increasing number of people who suffer from some form of mental illness, and with an ageing population, the number of elderly people with mental health conditions is on the increase. Preventive Health 2010 will debate this important issue with invited speak, David Behan CBE, Director General for Social Care at the Department of Health.
Whilst focusing on the broad national strategies to improve the quality of preventive care, Preventive Health 2010 will also incorporate a strong local focus. We have included best practice case studies on the Doncaster Alcohol Hotspots Project, a unique programme that is reducing alcohol abuse rates amongst young people, and the example of Ealing PCT which has developed an innovative commissioning structure for preventive services.
Join us at this high level conference which brings together over 300 public sector stakeholders to discuss one of the most critical public health issues of the 21st century. With excellent speakers and unrivalled networking opportunities, this is a must attend conference for all public health professionals.
© GovNet Events 2010
