Social scientists present public health solutions

The British Academy has published nine proposalsfrom leading social scientists setting out ways that local authorities could improve the health of their communities and reduce health inequalities.

With responsibility for public health having been transferred from the NHS to local authorities, the Academy's reportuses research from the social sciences to help local policy makers.

Councils will have to tackle structural and economic issues such as planning, worklessness and income inequality, as well as behavioural issues such as smoking and alcohol abuse.

Dame Jane Roberts, a psychiatrist, former leader of Camden Council and a member of the steering group that produced the report, said: “These nine proposals suggest concrete approaches policy makers can adopt to reduce health inequalities. A tough ask, especially in the academic world. But we wanted to concentrate minds turning academic understanding into local action.”

Each of the expert authors has proposed one policy intervention that local policy makers could adopt to help reduce health inequality.

Their policy suggestions are: implementing a living wage; increasing early childhood education; implementing 20mph speed limits for cars in residential areas, shops and schools; tackling health-related ‘worklessness’; building ‘age-friendly’ communities and cities; using participatory budgeting to improve mental capital; improving the employment conditions of public sector workers; increasing the scope of adult and further education and evaluating policies for evidence of cost effectiveness.

The reporthighlights successful case studies, as well as encouraging councils to collaborate, share information, and build good relationships with local academics from the social sciences.

Recent analysis has suggested that as little as 20% of the influences on health are to do with clinical care. Health behaviours account for 30% of influences and the physical environment for 10%, with socioeconomic factors having the largest impact on health at 40%.

Shirley Cramer, Chief Executive of Royal Society for Public Health, said: “There is a huge potential in the bringing together of different disciplines to help develop appropriate solutions and interventions and we fully support the opening of this dialogue.

“Shared learning provides an opportunity to expand knowledge and approach problems from a different perspective and could be a big step towards tackling health inequalities.”