By Richard Johnstone | 26 February 2014
The body established by government to improve public health in England has not yet shown it can be effective and needs to do more to establish its independence from the Department of Health, MPs have said today.
Public Health England was established last April as part of the government’s controversial NHS reforms, with the aim of putting public health at the heart of policy-making. But the health select committee said today it was not yet seen as robust or independent enough to be effective.
Committee chair Stephen Dorrell stated the organisation should act as an independent voice to champion policies that would make the greatest difference to the nation’s health, but it did not yet have clear priorities.
‘Tackling alcohol misuse, smoking and the crisis of obesity are fundamental to improving the nation’s health, but PHE has yet to strike the right tone when addressing these issues. Its public comments have often been faltering and uncertain when they should have been clear and unequivocal.’
In particular, Dorrell highlighted concerns that PHE had yet to show it was independent of Whitehall.
‘Drawing a contrast between the government's commitment to create an independent voice for the Care Quality Commission, and qualified independence of PHE, the committee concluded we are concerned that there is insufficient separation between PHE and the Department of Health,’ he said.
There was an urgent need to clarify this relationship and for PHE to demonstrate that it is genuinely able to speak truth to power, Dorrell added.
‘PHE can only succeed if it is clear beyond doubt that its public statements and policy positions are not influenced by government policy or political considerations.’
Despite these concerns, MPs concluded PHE had been established successfully, with the transition to the new regime, including incorporation of the functions of the now-defunct Health Protection Agency, being handled well.
However, with councils now responsible for local public health, further clarity was needed on where responsibility lies in cases of local or national public health emergencies, Dorrell said.
‘The government should put these important issues beyond doubt so that every organisation with a stake in health protection understands how emergencies will be responded to.’
Responding to the report, PHE chief executive Duncan Selbie said the organisation had needed to stabilise the public health system in its first six months, but now planned to ‘transform’ it.
‘We are pleased the report has recognised the successful transition from over 100 predecessor organisations to the creation of PHE, while maintaining the continuity of our vital work.
‘We will, of course, carefully consider the report’s recommendations.’
