Public Health Task & Finish Group
The development of policy regarding public health has been undertaken by the Public Health Task & Finish Group. The Group is promoting the role of libraries in public health through:
• Active engagement with the recently formed Consumer Health Information Group of the National Library of Health. It is hoped this will provide a national focus for libraries work on public health and patient information. (England)
• Bob McKee's (CILIP Chief Executive) membership of the Advisory Board of NHS Choices User Council - a key component of the public health information landscape. (England)
• Bruce Madge's (CILIP President in 2008) links with the Department of Health's Choose & Book Scheme. (England)
• Influencing the implementation of the recommendations in the Review of NHS Libraries through the work of the Health Strategy Group. CILIP is a founding member with SCONUL. (England) http://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/health_strategy/
• The recommendation of the Youth & Schools Joint Committee that the Policy Forum establish a Task & Finish Group to consider the potential contribution of libraries to a Children's Health Strategy proposed in the Children's Plan. This will be considered at 4 September 2008 meeting of the Policy Forum. (England)
• Further analysis of the Darzi report, "High Quality Care for All" for ways to promote the role of libraries in public health.
• Bringing CILIP representatives working on public health issues together in a round table to agree common messages across all publich health work and identify future opportunities.
• Work on gathering evidence and best practice, especially in collecting examples of good practice from the Celtic nations.
Libraries and public health statement
The Group put together a statement on libraries and public health which was adopted as policy by CILIP Council in September 2008. Read it here
About the Public Health Task & Finish Group
The Group reports to the Policy Forum. (It was originally set up by the Policy Development Committee in 2006.) Contributions have also been received from the Health Libraries Group Policy Panel. Professional support is provided by Guy Daines, CILIP's Director of Policy & Advocacy.
Members
Its members are: Paul Clarke, Veronica Fraser, Alan Fricker, and Peter Griffiths (ex officio).
Updated: 20 October 2008