Sheffield hosts UK's only interactive
public health consultation
Delegates at the only live public health consultation in
the UK have been telling the Government how to improve the
health of the nation.
Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol abuse, mental health,
sexual health and teenage pregnancy were all debated at
the event organised by Sheffield First for Health on behalf
of the Department of Health. Health Minister, Melanie Johnson,
listened in via a live-link up to Westminster.
Two hundred delegates drawn from the NHS, community and
voluntary sector, business community, Yorkshire Regional
Office, young people’s groups and members of the public
from across Yorkshire and Humberside, used interactive keypads
to vote on health priorities.
The consultation event called ‘Talking Our Health’ took
place at Sheffield United’s Conference Centre on Bramall
Lane and forms part of the Government’s nationwide consultation
on public health issues – ‘Choosing Health?’. Points raised
at the conference will form part of a White Paper to be
published by the Government later this summer and will have
a direct impact on future policy-making.
Andy Buck, Co-Chair of Sheffield First for Health, said:
“This was an exciting opportunity for delegates to come
together, discuss the health issues they feel need to be
addressed by the Government and put them to the Minister.
“We are all responsible for our own health and tackling
health inequalities is at the core of improving everyone’s
quality of life – in Sheffield and across the UK.”
Melanie Johnson told the audience their opinions would
be reflected in the policy-making process. She said: “You
should be reassured that the ideas you have had really are
being listened to and will be reflected in the White Paper.
We are listening very closely to what is being said about
all of the matters discussed. We are also very interested
to see a number of themes coming through very clearly –
both in Sheffield and across the country.”
She added: “The main strands of what has been discussed
are very much being taken account of and I am sure you will
see that when we bring out the White Paper in the summer.”
Key points from the discussions were put to: Paul Johnstone,
Regional Director of Public Health; Callum McKayle, of the
UK Youth Parliament; Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive of Sheffield
City Council, Wendy Bundy, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional
Assembly and Sian Griffiths, President of the Faculty of
Public Health. The debate was hosted by former Yorkshire
Television political editor, Geoff Druett.
may 2004
October 02, 2006 
