The College has worked to improve public health for nearly 350 years and promotes health and wellbeing for all.
Long-COVID
Long-COVID may be the next pandemic that we need to plan for. Office for National Statistics data(link is external) show that around 1 in 10 people testing positive for COVID-19 exhibited symptoms for a period of 12 weeks or longer. Common long-COVID symptoms include extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness and a range of other symptoms. However, there is much that remains unknown about long-COVID, and the response to long-COVID is still in its infancy. It is critical that research and planning to respond to the long-term impact of long-COVID are prioritised.
Obesity
In 2022/23, 64% of all adults in England(link is external) were either obese or overweight, with the figure for Scotland(link is external) being slightly higher at 67%. The UK has a comparatively(link is external) worse obesity rate than Germany, Belgium and Japan - but a more favourable rate compared with the USA or Chile. Prevention is both better for patients and more cost-effective than treatment. However, action is also necessary to assist those who are already overweight or obese. The costs of obesity to both the NHS and patients are high, both financially and in terms of avoidable suffering. Being overweight increases the chances of developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and arthritis, and has the potential to lead to reduced mobility, disability, and social isolation.
It is vital that the public can make informed choices about food. While a balanced diet will help avoid obesity, a poor diet that does not meet recommended dietary requirements and results in overweight/obesity could be described as ‘modern malnutrition’(link is external). Preventative measures such as reduced food portion or pack sizes must be considered along with policies such as the sugary drinks tax.
The College supports fully embedding physical activity for health into primary care, secondary care, social care and health education, as well as in the health and social care workforce and workplace. This includes ensuring secondary care staff provide guidance on the recommended minimum levels of physical activity for health, offer brief advice and brief intervention, and signpost to community resources fully supporting the aims of the Health Promoting Health Service.
Physical activity
The UK Chief Medical Officers’ expert group on physical activity has produced a series of infographics to encourage physical activity in adulta and older adults, children and young adults (5-18 years old), and very young children (birth-5 years old). These tools are designed to help highlight the importance of physical activity and why it’s important to be active.
Alcohol
Problems associated with alcohol continue to be a challenge for the NHS. We agree with other health organisations that the alcohol industry should have a reduced role in the formulation of alcohol policies to help ensure public health remains the priority. The alcohol industry should be strongly encouraged to contribute to the reduction of alcohol harm by sharing knowledge of sales patterns and marketing influence.
There are currently significant differences (of up to 20 years) in life expectancy between the most affluent and the most deprived areas of Scotland. Research over the years, from the Black Report(link is external) to Prof Sir Michael Marmot’s Institute of Health Equity(link is external), has consistently shown that it is vital that action is taken to improve the social and economic conditions in which people live. The College is committed to working with other organisations and professional bodies to embed action on the social determinants of health across the workforce.
Drug-related deaths
In August 2024, National Records of Scotland(link is external) reported that the number of drug-related deaths recorded in Scotland was 1,172 during 2023. This is an increase of 121 deaths compared with 2022. The average age of drug misuse deaths has also increased from 32 to 45 since 2000. Opiates and opioids, including heroin, morphine and methadone were implicated in 80% of all deaths. Almost nine out of 10 drug misuse deaths were classified as accidental poisonings, with 7% classed as intentional self-poisonings. The College is continuing to call for urgent action and produced a report on the topic in February 2021.
