PublicHealthMatters

Health inequalities in our society In England today, those in the least deprived areas of the country live around 20 years longer in good health than those in the most deprived areas. This is just one example of the stark differences in health outcomes that exist between different groups and communities in our society. Health … Read more

Protecting those who use and provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial. The pandemic has seen a different scale of test for adult social care, going far beyond anything the sector has previously experienced. It has been hugely challenging for the 1.5 million people who make up the nation’s paid social care workforce, in … Read more

The pandemic has dramatically changed how we live our lives. The impact has been felt across all sectors, including the local weight management, obesity and wellbeing services. Local Authorities (LAs) have had to adapt at fast pace to support their communities. Our rapid research into weight management services captures innovative local practice and presents insights … Read more

Protect yourself, your university and the wider community – remember Hands, Face, Space. Whether you’re a fresher, returning student or a postgrad, you’ll no doubt have lots of questions or concerns about how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact your student life. As a responsible adult possibly moving into a new town, you’ll need to know … Read more

The coronavirus pandemic impacts on all our daily lives, including our physical and mental health. Some of us will feel the impact more than others, and the support we require will differ depending on our needs and our circumstances. To ensure the right help is provided we need to understand what is happening at a … Read more

COVID-19 dashboard Keeping the public and leaders across government and the health care sector informed about the progress of the coronavirus pandemic is a critical part of controlling the spread of infection. That’s why, in April, we decided we needed to create a tool to bring all the essential data and statistics about COVID-19 in … Read more

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, local government, health, education and other public services have sought to make sure that vulnerable children are protected. As we look ahead, these children and their families remain central to our public health plans and ambitions. There are some specific ways in which the pandemic may affect childhood vulnerability but, more … Read more

Dear everyone Today the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has announced the creation of the National Institute for Health Protection, a new organisation to address the next phase of the pandemic and a new chapter for the nation’s public health system. This effectively replaces Public Health England and therefore is a sensible moment … Read more

Dear everyone Returning to school As the new school term approaches, we are supporting the Department for Education’s preparations for this. PHE’s scientists have been analysing the impact of COVID-19 in schools and the evidence to date has indicated that schools are not a major driver of COVID-19 infections in the community. Our study published … Read more

Defining a COVID-19 death Although it might seem straightforward, counting the number of people who have died from COVID-19 related illness is complex. The infection can lead to death soon after diagnosis, but it may also cause death many weeks later. Someone who tests positive can of course die from another cause such as cancer … Read more