Public Health Work Will Continue to Play a Significant Role Over the Next 60 Years of the NHS

AS PART of the NHS 60th anniversary celebrations, the directors of public health in Scotland would like to highlight the work of their department in protecting, promoting and improving the health of the people of Scotland.

Major development in medicines, surgical and other interventions have led to very real improvements in people’s health; however, public health has had to respond to significant challenges affecting the population over the past 60 years, and there is no doubt public health will have a significant role to play in the next 60 years.

In the 1950s, the number of cases and deaths from tuberculosis caused national alarm and public health officials spearheaded campaigns inviting people for chest X-rays in miniature radiography vans so that cases could be identified early and treated. A number of cases of poliomyelitis and measles were followed by serious complications and the immunisation of children by public health staff against these potentially fatal diseases resulted in significant improvements in health.

Chronic respiratory disease was also increasingly common in the 1950s and the combination of smoke and fog resulted in an excess of 4000 deaths from respiratory disease in London alone in 1952. Public health advocacy for clean air facilitated the passing of the first Clean Air Act in 1956, introducing smokeless zones for domestic fires and integrating domestic and industrial pollution control.

Aids was reported first in Scotland in 1983 with a significant number of cases in Edinburgh. Aggressive health promotion campaigns played a critical role in reducing the spread of HIV infections and emphasises the need to be ever-vigilant about prevention and control of infectious disease.

In 1999, Towards a Healthier Scotland set the scene for improving lifestyles and life circumstances in Scotland and has strengthened public health influence with management in the NHS and increasingly with local authorities on tackling lifestyle issues.

Poor diets, lack of exercise and the effects of smoking and alcohol have all taken their toll on the health of Scotland, and it is likely that over the coming years more resources will be required in health promotion activities if people are to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The needs of an ageing population will determine the future of the NHS and promoting the health of older people will be critical.

Whatever direction health and healthcare takes over the next 60 years, the need for public health to protect, promote and improve health will be as essential as it has been over the past 60 years.

Dr Dorothy C Moir, Chair, Scottish Directors of Public Health, 14 Beckford Street, Hamilton.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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