Give your feedback to consultation on preventing ill health

This article was updated 14th October 2019, with links to the CSP's responses to the consultation.

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care, launched an open consultation document, titled Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s, on 22 July.

The consultation outlines how the government intends to tackle the causes of preventable ill health in England over the next decade, and poses a series of questions about its proposals.

The CSP is preparing an official response but members, with their skills and experience, could also provide useful answers to many of the questions raised, such as:

• What would you like to see included in a call for evidence on musculoskeletal (MSK) health?
• Have you got examples or ideas that would help people to do more strength and balance exercises?
• How else can we help people reach and stay at a healthier weight?
• How can we make better use of existing assets – across both the public and private sectors – to promote the prevention agenda

A commitment to act on MSK problems

CSP policy and research officer Robin Hinks welcomed the consultation document.

'It proposes some positive initiatives that could help keep people in good health,' he said.

'Particularly encouraging is the recognition that musculoskeletal problems are one of the most common causes of disability in England, and a commitment to act on this. 

'However, further commitments around workforce and funding would be needed to secure the nation’s health in the long term.'

Tackling physical inactivity

The consultation highlights that people in the UK are less active than those in France, the Netherlands and Australia - and twice as inactive as people in Finland.

It also states that one in four women and one in five men in England are currently classed as ‘physically inactive’, because they do less than 30 minutes of moderate activity a week.

As a result, the government plans to review the UK Chief Medical Officers current guidance on the amount of activity required for good health, and publish new guidelines in September 2019.

In the meantime, CSP’s Love activity, Hate exercise? campaign continues to work to reduce the barriers that prevent people from being more active – by suggesting ways to make exercise more fun and accessible to a wider range of people.

And later this year, Public Health England and Sports England will be launching the second phase of their national Moving Healthcare Professionals partnership programme, which supports healthcare professionals to promote physical activity to their patients.

Update - 14th October 2019

CSP responses to the consultation

The CSP responded to this consultation through several routes.  As a member of the ARMA MSK Alliance, we contributed to a submission reflecting the breadth of England's MSK community. 

We also made a brief individual response, highlighting the valuable links between the CSP's new strengthening initiative, and two work streams proposed in the governments' consultation document.

The CSP's responses can be read below.