PublicHealthMatters

This year, it is more important than ever that we do everything we can to protect the population and the NHS from flu. Flu can be very serious and puts significant pressure on the NHS every winter – we see thousands of hospitalisations and deaths from flu in a typical year. Of course, this is … Read more

Recent articles by Kawachi and by Bambra and colleagues remind us that striking inequality has been a marked feature of past pandemics. No surprise then that it is the disadvantaged poor that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 in the UK, as they have all over the world. As Kawachi points out, it is as … Read more

Local Alert Levels are now in place across England so if you’re considering or have booked a trip for the Autumn half term break, it’s important to be aware of how your region, and the one you’re travelling to, might be impacted. We’ll help you determine if a holiday or day trip is advisable and … Read more

We’ve recently launched a refreshed dashboard design with some exciting new features. The changes are in direct response to a survey of tens of thousands of our users. There was a lot of feedback, with one response running to more than 30,000 words! But the main message was that people’s needs from the dashboard have … Read more

Streets of terraced stone houses in Hebden bridge, Calderdale. Defeating COVID-19 involves everyone working together at local and national level. Since July, 100 local authorities have worked in partnership with NHS Test and Trace to provide local tracing partnerships which combine national scale and data with local knowledge. Calderdale Council was one of the first … Read more

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its annual drug misuse deaths report, which shows that there were 4,115 deaths last year due to drug poisoning. The figures show another record high in England and the seventh year in a row of increases. Now more than ever we need to re-energise our efforts in … Read more

Public health programmes are essential in promoting and protecting the health of school-aged children. Delivery of these programmes, which includes the National Child Measurement Programme, immunisations, screenings, mental health services and relationship education, has been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This blog sets out the principles to consider when supporting the restart of programmes … Read more

For nearly thirty years, nations across the world have come together on 10 October to shine a spotlight on mental health. This year, World Mental Health Day feels more important than ever as we feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our daily lives. We have adapted to wearing masks and socially distancing from … Read more

The latest edition of Health Matters, PHE’s professional resource, focuses on the national flu immunisation programme and the delivery of the 2020/21 programme, which will be the largest one to date offering 30 million people a flu vaccine. This blog provides a summary of the full edition’s content and the main things to know about … Read more

The recent rises in COVID-19 cases across the country – in all age groups and communities – are a stark warning to us all that we need to keep working together to slow the spread of the virus. One of the best ways we can protect ourselves and each other is to remember; hands, face, … Read more