BMJ Press
Release: New BMJ service will help deliver public health targets
A new health intelligence service launched
by the BMJ Group today (Tuesday 26 June) will help tackle the most important
public health issues, such as smoking, drinking and obesity.
It comes as the government reveals the
latest “health maps” showing the areas of England with the best and worst
health.
Knowing where the problems are is
important but BMJ Health Intelligence shows how best to tackle them.
BMJ Health Intelligence is a central
web-based source of intelligence for everyone involved in public health
decisions. It brings together the evidence for what works and outlines
local projects, policies, targets, and guidelines to show what is being
done up and down the country.
It means that, for the first time,
public health professionals now have the evidence they need to deliver
national policies in the most effective way.
The service is already being trialled
by over 100 universities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and government departments
to help them compare trends, share ideas and deliver targets.
For example, the data show:
32% of men and 15% of women in England
drink more than recommended weekly limits
By 2010 one third of UK adults will
be obese
About 4 million people in the UK are
living with cardiovascular disease at a cost of around £30 billion per
year
Welcoming the service, Dr Alan Maryon
Davis, from today president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: “For
many years, good quality evidence for what works in public health has not
been easy for the busy practitioner to track down. BMJ Health Intelligence
helps to fill this gap and means that public health practitioners can now
spend more time using information and less time looking for it.”
He also praised local projects outlined
in BMJ Health Intelligence as examples of the excellent work being done
to reduce health inequalities up and down the country. They include an
allotment project in Birmingham to encourage Asian women to grow,
eat and sell fruit and vegetables, and a programme using vegetable-loving
heroes - the “Food Dudes” - to promote healthy eating among young children.
Speaking at the launch, BMJ Health Intelligence
Editor, Dr Alison Walker, said: “It’s good news that public health is
now at the top of the government’s agenda, but health professionals up
and down the country were telling us that reliable and up-to-date information
to help them deliver national policies was not always easy to find.
Good quality information on which to
base decisions is crucial, so by providing easy access to data, tools,
and real-life examples of good practice, BMJ Health Intelligence will help
public health practitioners quickly identify important trends in their
local area and decide where to focus efforts for maximum effect.”
Ends
Notes to Editors: BMJ Health Intelligence is provided
by the BMJ Group – one of the world’s leading and most trusted providers
of healthcare information. http://healthintelligence.bmj.com
BMJ Health Intelligence can be purchased
on annual subscription by Primary Care Trusts, Local Authorities and GP
practices, based on the size of the population they serve.
Examples of local projects outlined
on BMJ Health Intelligence include:
It's Not OK! A project in Liverpool to provide education
on the dangers of irresponsible drinking among young people aged between
13 and 16 years.
Concrete to Coriander A programme using allotment sites in
Birmingham to encourage Asian women to grow, eat and sell fruit and vegetables
and adopt a healthier lifestyle through improved diet and exercise.
Heart of Mersey CVD Prevention Programme England’s largest cardiovascular disease
(CVD) programme aimed at preventing cardiovascular disease, through healthy
food and tobacco control interventions, among children and adults living
in the most deprived areas of Greater Merseyside.
Food Dude Healthy Eating Programme A nationwide programme to encourage
and maintain healthy eating habits in children aged 4-11 years. The programme
uses video adventures featuring hero figures – the “Food Dudes” – who
enjoy eating fruit and vegetables.
Essex C-card A sexual health scheme supplying free
condoms to people aged under 20.
For further information please
contact:
Emma Dickinson
direct telephone: +44 (0)20 7383 6529
email: [log in to unmask]
British Medical Journal
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
----------------------------------------------------
Jane McHugh, Information Specialist
BMJ Knowledge, BMJ Group
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR
Tel: 020 7383 6384 Fax: 020 7383 6242
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