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RCP policy: public health

Details

Status: In progress
Date: 10 September 2015

Get involved

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has a long history of promoting public health through evidence-based policy. Physicians and medical professionals have a key role to play not only in managing ill health, but also in supporting people to live healthier lives.

What we are doing

The RCP is working with colleagues across the UK’s major health institutions to tackle public health challenges posed by air pollution, alcohol, obesity and tobacco.

Our policy position papers tell you what we think about those challenges and what we are doing to address them:

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please email policy@rcplondon.ac.uk.

Who's involved

Organisations

The RCP works with the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) to support policy making to tackle the social, economic and cultural factors that contribute to obesity and the inequalities in health caused by obesity.

As a founding member of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), the RCP is working with the AHA to highlight the rising levels of alcohol-related harm, propose evidence-based solutions to reduce this harm and influence decision makers to take positive action to address the damage caused by alcohol misuse.

As a founding member of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC), the RCP seeks to highlight better approaches to tackling climate change that protect and promote public health.

What we have produced

What the RCP thinks about air pollution

The RCP urges the government to introduce a clean air bill for the 21st century that tackles the modern sources of air pollution.
1 February 2018
Position statement
Current

What the RCP thinks about alcohol

The RCP believes the most effective way to reduce the harm from alcohol is to reduce its affordability, availability and attractiveness.
1 February 2018
Position statement
Current

What the RCP thinks about obesity

The RCP's goal is to prevent obesity-related ill-health by addressing the influences that lead to excess bodyweight throughout life.
1 February 2018
Position statement
Current

What the RCP thinks about tobacco

The RCP wants the delivery of smoking cessation support to all smokers to be a core function of all healthcare activity.
1 February 2018
Position statement
Current

Nicotine without smoke: Tobacco harm reduction

This report provides an update on the use of harm reduction in tobacco smoking, particularly in relation to e-cigarettes.
28 April 2016
Working party report
Current

Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution

This report from the RCP and the RCPCH examines the impact of exposure to air pollution across the course of a lifetime.
23 February 2016
Working party report
Current

Brexit: What does it mean for air quality?

The RCP wants the UK to retain EU regulation on air quality and seek to continue implementation of its pollution reduction targets.
18 April 2017
Guidance
Current

Less waste, more health: A health professional's guide to reducing waste

Simple changes to how health professionals procure and dispose of medical supplies can have a positive influence on societal health and wellbeing.
17 April 2018
Report
Current

Breaking the fever: Sustainability and climate change in the NHS

Breaking the fever: Sustainability and climate change in the NHS gives an overview of the impact of climate change on healthcare in the UK, and how physicians and the NHS can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

15 March 2017
Report
Current

Action on obesity: Comprehensive care for all

Obesity is an increasing and costly public health problem which is not being addressed by current services or policy. This report confronts the issues, and sets out how the NHS should adapt to meet the demands of an increasingly obese nation.

10 September 2015
Working party report
Current

Tags

Air quality Alcohol Obesity Smoking and Tobacco Sustainability Policy Public Health Medicine

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