Abstract
The Royal Society of Health welcomes the publication of the Consultative Document and the attempt of HM Government to identify the most significant conditions which are capable of responding to a range of health initiatives and to establish realistic quantifiable objectives.
The Society is pleased that HMGovernment recognises that health promotion is a corporate responsibility and not that of a single Department of State. No fewer than eight Departments are referred to in pages 21 to 25 of the document as having either direct or indirect responsibilites for securing improvements to the health of the nation. Other agencies such as local authorities and non-statutory bodies must also be seen as playing a positive role.
The Society recognises that there are many competing claims for financial and other resources often involving hard decisions and that their allocation is always one of great sensitivity. Nevertheless, the Society is sorry that little reference is made to the provision, development and use of resources. It is especially necessary in a period of recession to ensure that resources are used effectively, efficiently and economically as enunciated in earlier reports of the Audit Commission.
The Society believes that the new emerging structure of the National Health Service is well placed to develop, implement and monitor the proposed strategy and hopes that the momentum will be sustained. The Society does, however, have a number of major reservations, viz:
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