The Faculty of Public Health welcomes today’s Chief Medical Officer report on ‘Health in Cities’, which outlines the specific health challenges faced by urban areas, and makes evidence-based recommendations which, if implemented, would drastically improve the health of cities in England.
We particularly welcome the report’s emphasis on the severe inequalities impacting the life chances of those living in cities in England, and support the report’s focus on preventative interventions which target those populations who are most at risk of ill-health.
The report recognises the importance of education, the food environment, healthy housing, air pollution, transport, and other social and structural determinants of health, making recommendations to build solid foundations for health in our urban areas for decades to come.
Within the report is a chapter co-authored by FPH President Professor Kevin Fenton CBE which examines the inequalities faced by ethnic minority populations living, working, and studying in urban environments, making recommendations focussed on investment for deprived areas, data-driven decision making, strong collaborative partnerships across sectors, and culturally-competent community engagement.
The wide-ranging report also recognises the importance of healthy ageing for those living in urban environments, encouraging actions such as providing age-friendly accommodation with access to practical places to socialise and exercise.
FPH President Professor Kevin Fenton CBE said
“This excellent report from the Chief Medical Officer for England takes a holistic view of health, recognising the impacts of the social and structural determinants of health on those living in urban areas, and how these have contributed to entrenched inequalities between populations.
Whilst the challenges outlined in the report are complex, if policy makers, public health professionals, the NHS, and other public and private actors come together to take forward the recommendations outlined in the report we can support a healthier, more sustainable future for our cities in England.”
