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Summary of main points raised in responses to the consultative document on health policy "Health: the wider dimensions"
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| Title: | Summary of main points raised in responses to the consultative document on health policy "Health: the wider dimensions" |
| Other Titles: | Health: the wider dimensions |
| Authors: | Department of Health (DoH) |
| Publisher: | Department of Health (DoH) |
| Issue Date: | Oct-1987 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/247716 |
| Type: | Report |
| Language: | en |
| Description: | A total of 16 Government Departments were circulated and invited to submit comments on the document. Of these five replied indicating that they had no comment
to offer. The following are the main points made in the submissions received from the
remaining seven departments which replied.
1. General support for the principle of prevention rather than over-reliance on cure.
2. Concern expressed that any health advice to the public on consumption of certain types
of food should not be a blanket condemnation. This could have serious repercussions
for the food industry and employment therein.
3. Support the availability of low cost recreational centres and facilities for promotion of
health behaviour.
4. Creation of health boards did not clearly separate environmental and health functions.
Health personnel still discharge some functions on behalf of local authorities. This should
be addressed in future policy planning.
5. Local authority members should continue to form majority membership of health
boards/or proposed health committees. Perhaps local authorities should have some role
in community care.
6. There is a need for improved co-ordination in administration of national policies in
following areas:
(a) quality control of food production and processing. (This may result in higher food
prices);
(b) environmental pollution.
7. No mention made of measures to reduce alcohol abuse and develop appropriate occupational
health policies.
8. Support the emphasis on the shift from institutional to community care.
Community care facilities need to be extended if an alternative to institutions/hospitals is to
be provided. There is a need also to specify amounts of money involved in transfers to
community care.
9. That tax allowances for private health insurance should be curtailed seems attractive
but would need to be examined in detail to ascertain long term cost effectiveness.
10. Health policy should take into account that an efficient public transport system is beneficial
to health reducing stress and pollution, and is also important for disadvantaged
people.
11. Dept of Health should be represented on the Inter-Departmental Committee for
Enforcement of Road-Related legislation.
12. The reality that resources available for the health services in the future will drop in
real terms, must be faced. Comprehensive state funded services are ruled out under
present resource restraints.
13. Fundamental change required in attitudes of the public if the move away from hospital
care is to be pursued. More evidence needed to prove that primary care is more cost
effective.
14. There is a lack of statutory control on larger voluntary hospitals.
15. Support the idea of health promotion but objective criteria for healthy living need to
be set out in detail.
Reductions in tobacco/alcohol consumption will have implications for tax revenue and
employment.
16. Do not support proposal to rename Dept. of Health and health boards to take account
of proposed wider responsibilities. This could lead to overlap and confusion of responsibilities.
17. Assumption of any responsibilities for areas outside direct control of the Department
because they impinge on health would be excessive.
Disagree that a cabinet subcommittee would be the best way to co-ordinate efforts in the
health related areas.
18. Evidence required to substantiate statement 'that public policy should demonstrably
not contribute to health problems'.
Any lack of co-ordination between statutory and non-statutory bodies may imply criticism
of the Department of Health. |
| Keywords: | HEALTH POLICY
GOVERNMENT |
| Appears in Collections: | DOH
|
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